With 2018 right around the corner, you may be starting to think about New Year’s resolutions and goals you’d like to set for yourself in the upcoming year. Setting goals is an important part of maintaining sobriety and continuing your own personal, emotional, and spiritual growth.
What Are Some Helpful Tips for Setting Recovery-Oriented New Year’s Resolutions That I Can Actually Keep?
The most effective recovery-oriented resolutions are small, specific, and realistic rather than sweeping. Use the SMART approach — make goals Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound — and focus on one or two at a time instead of overhauling everything at once. Frame resolutions around actions you control (attend three meetings a week, call your sponsor daily, build a morning routine) rather than vague outcomes, and build in support and accountability so you’re not relying on willpower alone.
Just as important: treat slip-ups as information, not failure. Recovery isn’t linear, so adjust your goals as you go and celebrate small wins along the way. Pairing your resolutions with the structure of recovery meetings, a sponsor, or sober living makes them far easier to actually keep.
If you want to set a few resolutions for yourself but you aren’t sure where to begin, talk to your counselor, the house manager at your sober living home, or your peers in your support group. They may be able to provide some insight and encouragement on the subject of goal-setting. In the meantime, here are a few tips to get you started.
- Make sure it’s something you want, not something your sponsor, spouse, or parent is pressuring you to do.
By setting internal goals that have meaning and value to you, you are much more likely to achieve them and you’ll be more willing to work to reach them. Externally motivated goals are important too, but internal goals should be your primary focus.
- Have a plan.
Planning is key to achieving any goal so it’s essential that you have one. It’s easy to say, “I’m going to be more consistent about attending recovery meetings.” but if you don’t have a plan for how you will achieve that, you aren’t likely to stick to it. Your plan doesn’t have to be anything long and drawn-out. It can be as simple as researching nearby AA groups and penciling them into your calendar each month in advance. That way, you’ll know what days and times you are scheduled to attend group meetings.
- Define the purpose behind your goals.
Why are you working to achieve your New Year’s resolution(s)? To be a better mother? To become financially secure? It’s important to define the purpose and meaning of any resolution before you commit to it. This will reveal your true intentions and may even lead you to refine your resolutions into healthier, more realistic goals.
- Be patient.
Most great New Year’s resolutions can’t be achieved in just a few days or weeks. The ones that are truly life-changing will be the ones that take months or even years to achieve. Be careful not to expect immediate gratification from any goal that you set, as it is likely to take time, hard work, and dedication.
- Avoid making unrealistic resolutions.
An unrealistic goal would be, “I’m going to quit smoking on January 1, 2018” after smoking continually for 10 years. Although some people successfully quit cold turkey like that, you are much more likely to achieve that goal if you create a more realistic resolution for yourself. An example could be, “I’m going to cut back and limit myself to five cigarettes each day in January. In February, I will cut it down to three, and continue to taper down my cigarette smoking each month until I am completely smoke-free.”
Ideas for Recovery-Oriented New Year’s Resolutions
There are no strict rules for what your New Year’s resolutions should look like and each person’s sobriety goals will be different. The most important thing to remember is that the more specific and detailed you are, the better. Here are a few examples of healthy recovery-oriented New Year’s Resolutions:
- I would like to save money so I will open a savings account and deposit $50 per month beginning in January.
- I want to prioritize my physical health so I will attend yoga classes every Wednesday and Saturday.
- I want to rebuild my relationships with family so I will spend every Friday night having dinner at my mom’s house.
- I want to be more consistent about going to recovery meetings so I will attend a 12-step group meeting every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday night.
Eudaimonia Can Help You Achieve Your Sobriety Goals
The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that 40 to 60 percent of individuals in addiction recovery will relapse at some point.1 This statistic alone is a testament to how difficult it can be to maintain long-term sobriety, let alone achieve additional sobriety goals in life.
In addition, goal-setting isn’t always easy and you may feel hesitant or unsure about what your goals should look like as a newly sober person. At Eudaimonia Recovery Homes, our staff members have been where you are and have struggled to maintain their own sobriety at one point or another. Through these life experiences, they have learned how to set and achieve personal goals and they are uniquely equipped to guide you on your own recovery journey.
Sober living residents at Eudaimonia are challenged to grow in all aspects of their sober lives by attending weekly meetings with their recovery coaches to discuss their goals. These discussions lead to important life changes and developmental milestones that are essential for long-term recovery.
Whether you’re currently enrolled in a transitional housing program or you’ve recently moved home after completing a transitional living program, talk to your sponsor, counselor, or sober peers to get help setting healthy New Year’s resolutions. You can also contact Eudaimonia Recovery Homes today for more information about our sober living homes and programs.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a good recovery-oriented New Year’s resolution?
A good recovery resolution is small, specific, and within your control — like attending a set number of meetings each week, building a consistent routine, or repairing one relationship at a time. Concrete, action-based goals are far easier to keep than vague intentions.
How do I set resolutions I can actually keep?
Use the SMART framework (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound), focus on one or two goals at a time, build in accountability through a sponsor or support group, and celebrate small wins. Adjust as you go rather than abandoning a goal after a setback.
What are some examples of recovery New Year’s resolutions?
Examples include attending more recovery meetings, working the steps with a sponsor, building healthy routines (sleep, exercise, nutrition), volunteering, repairing relationships, and prioritizing mental health through therapy or mindfulness.
What if I slip up on my recovery resolution?
A slip isn’t failure — it’s information. Recovery isn’t linear, so adjust the goal, break it into smaller steps, and reach out to your support network. Self-compassion and persistence matter far more than perfection.
