A lot of people want quick solutions when they’re seeking successful sobriety and recovery. But the truth of the matter is that recovery is a lifelong process. It’s cultivated carefully through time and dedication. That being said, let’s discuss some key strategies that will foster successful sobriety no matter the stage of recovery.
Set Short-Term Goals
Everyone talks about the early stages of sobriety being the most difficult because you’re usually facing some level of withdrawal and attempting to break old habits. But established recovery can be just as challenging when most of the stretch goals have already been met. Recovery plateaus and sometimes that can lead to a dangerous mindset of complacency. You can counteract this by setting short-term goals to keep you feeling that forward momentum.
These aren’t required to be big accomplishments either; the idea is to just keep yourself focused on maintaining sobriety. Set a goal of speaking up in group therapy or AA meetings. Challenge yourself to try out a new hobby this month by attending a pottery class or try gardening. These goals should be small, short-term, and easy to meet.
Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle
This can be especially beneficial for those that are recovering from severe addictions where drug use has taken a toll on the body. Recovery isn’t just about sobriety or abstinence from drugs, it’s about building your health back up both physically and mentally. This can also tie into the previous strategy where you set short-term health goals or milestones for yourself. Try out yoga at your local community center, challenge yourself to drink a little bit more water each week, or attend a guided meditation class. Meal prepping is also a great sober activity and also helps you build a routine. You could even start a health journal or vlog to help keep you motivated and track your progress.
Cultivate Healthy Relationships
Relationships are a tricky subject when discussing recovery because each person’s situation is unique. Not many people realize—from an outside perspective—that for some sober individuals, certain relationships or family members actually contributed to their struggle with addiction. If a certain relationship is causing you stress, anxiety, or otherwise hindering your progress in recovery, consider distancing yourself from that person. Your first priority in recovery is your own well-being and stability.
That being said, relationships are crucial to successful sobriety and recovery. It’s hard for anything to grow in isolation and you shouldn’t feel like you’re facing recovery alone. Lean on friends, family, and therapy groups for support. Mend relationships that may have been hurt by the addiction, and maintain relationships that foster your growth in recovery.
Recognize Signs of Relapse
It may seem like you’re setting yourself up for failure by discussing relapse like it’s inevitable but self-awareness is important. Identifying your personal triggers and signs of relapse are absolutely a preventative measure. It’s also important to anticipate your own needs through signs of relapse. If you’re feeling particularly anxious and you identify that as a personal relapse sign, take a step back and examine possible anxiety triggers in your life. Has work been extra stressful lately? Or maybe your car is at the mechanic and you’re worried about the expense? Identify the issue and take corrective measures in your life. Talk to your therapist, discuss a reduction in hours with your boss, or call up the car mechanic and ask about payment plans. Cultivating the ability to identify and correct triggers have been known to prevent relapse and overall leads to more successful recovery.
Eudaimonia Can Help Keep You on the Path to Recovery
Eudaimonia offers excellent recovery programs with tailored care. In these programs, individuals can develop positive coping skills with the tools necessary to maintain sobriety. Eudaimonia even provides tailored care based on gender and orientation. We also include supervised, short-term housing to provide support for newly sober individuals. But no matter where you are in your recovery, Eudaimonia Sober Living Homes can provide support every step of the way. We have facilities for sober living in Austin, Houston, and Colorado Springs ready to assist you in living your sober lifestyle. Call Eudaimonia Sober Living Homes at (888) 424 – 4029 for more information on the sober living process and current room availability.
