As a new year approaches, it is only natural to want to come up with resolutions to improve your life. You may have created New Year’s resolutions as a student, and then the practice became an annual tradition. When you are in recovery, these resolutions might be a bit different. Creating sober goals for the new year can motivate you to stay on track for living sober. Even if you have not yet reached sobriety, you can get there when you set a goal to enroll in an inpatient rehab program.
At Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston, we believe that the tradition of creating New Year’s resolutions is the perfect opportunity to work on your sober goals. Whether you are considering addiction treatment or have already started on your path to recovery, you can benefit from refreshing your sober goals each year. For support in reaching your goals this year, give us a call at 866.516.8356 to learn more about our treatment options.
How to Set Sober Goals for the New Year
While the most common New Year’s resolutions involve weight loss, your sober goals will involve creating healthy habits that support living sober. Your overall goal will be to get sober and stay sober, but in order to succeed, you need to break that down into smaller goals. Think about the actions you will need to take to help you refrain from using drugs or alcohol. This may include reassessing your social circle, how you spend your free time, or even where you work or live.
When you are in recovery, each lifestyle choice can either sustain your recovery or interfere with your recovery. Consider setting goals that can bring you closer to the life you desire. Common areas for goal-setting may include:
- Relationships
- Career
- Health and fitness
- Spirituality
Coming up with sober goals that correlate with each of the above categories can be a helpful place to start planning for a happy, healthy new year.
Examples of New Year’s Resolutions to Support Living Sober
If you find yourself stumbling over which sober goals to set for the new year, you may need some inspiration. Here are some ideas for New Year’s resolutions to support your new sober lifestyle:
- Schedule time with your loved ones once a week. This could be anything from lunch with a friend to helping a parent with a household chore. This could also include a weekly or monthly day trip or dinner with your significant other in an intimate relationship.
- If you do not have a job or are unhappy with your current job, you could dedicate an hour each week to searching for a new job or learning new skills to help you get a job in another field. You could enroll in classes, take online courses, or research a new field.
- Exercise daily. This may sound overwhelming if you do not follow an exercise program at all, but exercise can mean anything from taking a walk with your dog to jumping on a trampoline or lifting weights. If you are new to exercise, you can start with as little as ten minutes a day and slowly work your way up to 30 minutes daily.
- Spirituality does not always require that you practice religion. If you are religious, you can set a goal to attend services weekly. If you do not practice religion, you could try meditating or doing yoga daily.
These are just a few examples from each of the goal-setting categories listed in the previous section. You do not have to use these specific goals and instead pick those that resonate with you. The best sober goals will be the ones that motivate you and are realistic and achievable.
Reach Your Sober Goals with Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston
Once you set your sober goals for the new year, you may need a little help staying on track. You can count on Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston to support your goals for recovery with various behavioral and holistic therapies along with support from caring professionals. Call us today at 866.516.8356 to start preparing for your best year yet.
