The road to sobriety can be riddled with challenges. Long-term goals can provide motivation and a sense of purpose that help recovering addicts stay motivated and on track after their last drug or alcohol use.
Want to set smart goals for recovery but are not sure where to start?
Let’s take a look at a list of the best goals to set for sobriety.
Choosing Long-Term Goals For Sobriety
Getting sober is but the beginning of your new journey into an exciting vice-free life. You’ve come a long way in getting this far, but as time progresses you will learn that sobriety was but the beginning of a much longer and fulfilling journey.
Setting recovery goals early on can serve as the compass that will help you navigate these new and unknown waters and take you in the direction that you want to be in.
How to Set Goals for Sobriety
There are a few key things you should keep in mind when setting a list of long-term goals for sobriety. If you want to set a goal that motivates you and keeps you on track, here are a few elements to consider:
- Be specific: Your goal should be clearly defined and specify exactly what you want to accomplish. Try to avoid general ideas or vague phrases–the more specific your goal, the easier it is to visualize.
- Establish a timeframe or deadline: Decide a specific time that you would like to accomplish this goal by. Whether it be in four weeks or in five years, having an ideal timeframe is helpful to provide motivation.
- Write it down: Writing down your goals is an important way to clearly define your plans. If you put these written goals where you can see them, they can also serve as motivation.
After you’ve set your goals, it may be helpful to identify the steps you can take to achieve them. Most importantly, once you’ve achieved a goal, make sure to mark the occasion. Every milestone, no matter how big or small, is a step in the right direction and a cause for celebration.
List of Long-Term Goals For Sobriety
Maintain a Recovery Program
Staying sober should be at the very top of your goal list. Without sobriety, the chances of achieving your recovery goals are close to none.
Maintaining a program of recovery, whether it’s a 12-step program or another form of aftercare, is a goal that should be at the very top of every recovering addict’s list.
But simply staying sober and maintaining a recovery program is too broad. Here are some examples of how you can break down this goal into measurable smaller tasks.
- Go to one 12-step meeting every day
- Make amends to someone from your resentment list each month
- Pick up your yearly anniversary chip
- Rework the 12 steps once a year
- Speak to your sponsor or mentor on a daily basis
Help Others With Their Recovery
The process of recovery is often a collective effort and having a supportive network of people can make a big difference. Part of that is paying it forward and helping others achieve or maintain long-term sobriety.
Building and nurturing this relationship will not only help others but it will also maintain a fresh outlook on long-term sobriety and build a supportive network.
- Serve as a sponsor to other recovering addicts
- Call at least one recovering addict each day
- Join aftercare and 12-step groups
- Extend a hand in need each time you are asked
- Contribute to at least one service commitment in a 12-step group per year
Commit to Holistic Practices
If you have achieved sobriety then by now you must know the importance of not only treating the symptoms but rather looking at the problem from its core.
Holistic addiction treatment addresses the addict’s physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being. Instead of just treating the symptoms of addiction, holistic treatments address the underlying causes.
There are many holistic practices and recovery goals that recovering addicts can incorporate into their lives to maintain a healthy program of sobriety.
Some examples of these include:
- Meditate once per day
- Exercise at least 3 times per week for 30 minutes
- Take an art class
- Do yoga twice a week
- Reduce intake of stimulants like caffeine and sugar
Stay in Touch With Therapy
No matter whether a recovering addict has a co-occurring disorder or not, speaking with a mental health specialist is a good idea.
The benefits of consulting with a mental health specialist include more than just working through psychological illnesses. They can also provide unbiased assessments and guidance about situations in our everyday lives.
Working with a mental health specialist or a life coach is a helpful way to help take some pressure off our backs.
A few great long-term sobriety goals to set when it comes to therapy include:
- Go see a therapist each week
- Journal at least once a week to keep a check on how you are feeling
Getting it Right From The Beginning
Great drug rehab centers know how quintessential it is to start recovery on the right foot. Building the right foundation during the pink cloud days of recovery is critical to maintaining a healthy program that will last a lifetime.
The best way to approach a solid start is by attending a drug rehab center that understands these principles and helps you make progress toward your long-term goals.
90210 Recovery offers holistic treatments to help you or your loved one get sober and stay that way.
Contact 90210 Recovery to learn how we can help you start recovery the right way.
