Make it a fantastic year for yourself as you move forward with exciting reachable goals! Even if you have shied away from making New Year’s resolutions in the past, it’s going to be different this time because you will have 5 tips to set realistic goals that you can easily achieve (and inspire others to do the same)! For those who are in recovery or are considering sobriety a brand new goal, the following tips will lead you to some surefire ways to better self-care:
Here are 5 Tips to Better Self-Care for Sobriety
1. Ask yourself, “Which self-care goals would I like to implement in my sobriety?”
Begin or continue with a recovery plan. Are you done with the havoc that drug and alcohol addiction has wreaked on your life? Before you can take care of your loved ones, partner, and kids, you have to put yourself first by making sobriety the top priority in your life. Sobriety is self-care, and it’s the best gift you can give to anybody – especially yourself. Examples of goals leading to better and long-lasting sobriety include sticking with a recovery plan that works, which entails assessment, accountability, and access to comprehensive dual diagnosis care for substance abuse addiction.
2. Change something in your life for healthier sobriety.
The path to steadfast sobriety is paved with a supportive environment, social network, and sound decisions. “No man is alone,” an adage penned by the English poet John Donne (1572-1631), can just as well be applied to individuals who are striving to abstain from chemical dependency. It would be extremely difficult to manage your sobriety if you’re still hanging around the same folks with whom you used to party. You can make some new friends who will be understanding if you decide not to drink around them. Instead of hanging out at bars and parties around certain social circles, you can check out other places like coffee shops, bookstores, and art museums. Find new people with different interests. If you are in a recovery program, you could ask someone about fun activities that are planned year-round to keep people busy and productive.
3. Take one step forward to a more successful recovery program.
Make your program more successful by squeezing in another meeting. If your current recovery program isn’t working out for you, check out New Method Wellness, one of the nation’s best centers for addiction treatment, where they take a holistic approach to recovery from substance abuse addiction. Dual diagnosis treatment addresses the whole person – body, mind, and spirit – and yields better treatment outcomes rather than just treating the symptoms of substance use disorders. Perhaps start a therapy session or establish a more solid connection with your sponsor with more frequent calls and meetings.
4. Write out some dreams or create a vision board.
Nothing manifests your goals more than writing them down and hanging them on a wall so you can see them every day on your wall(s) and when you walk in and out of your room. If you’re a visual person, find magazines that encapsulate your vision for a better future 5, 10, or 15 years down the road! Don’t just brainstorm about your dream job – jot down as many ideas as you can about your dream vacation, dream family, dream relationship, or fitness goal.
5. Give back to the community.
American poet and lecturer Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) once said, “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate [and] to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” Give yourself a one-year challenge to volunteer for a non-profit organization, whether that be assisting the homeless, rescuing people from human trafficking, or being a companion to the elderly at senior care homes. Dedicate yourself to the charity of your choice and give your time, resources, and energy to others. Not only would that make a world of difference for the community, but you will also feel a transformation in your own heart too.
Why Wait?
You don’t need to wait until New Year’s Day to begin implementing your goals for sobriety. Get a head start by contacting New Method Wellness today! Each client is paired with not one but two therapists, who will help customize your plans with short-term and long-term goals for 2018 and beyond. You can choose from a wide array of holistic programs ranging from Paddleboard Therapy to Equine and Surf Therapy. One of the nation’s best alcohol and drug rehab centers, New Method Wellness has procured dual accreditation from CARF International and The Joint Commission to ensure high ethical practices and unsurpassed quality in the delivery of services. Its high program completion rates and success stories have earned a spotlight on A & E’s Intervention and continuous recommendations from Dr. Phil.
For more information about New Method Wellness’s programs, contact us today!
By DeAnna Jordan, MFTi, LAADC, Clinical Director and Contributor
