Resolving to Lead a Drug and Alcohol-Free Life for the New Year
The New Year often brings big resolutions, some that stick and others that may be more fleeting. Those resolutions that involve leading a sober life, eliminating drugs and alcohol, are some of the most important for those that have struggled with addiction. The challenge often comes in sticking with these resolutions in the long-term, as life’s difficulties and temptations can easily get in the way. Telling close friends and family about your resolution to live a drug and alcohol-free life can go a long way to adding accountability to this resolution. The people that are closest to you can also offer their support when you struggle to keep the resolution over time.
Recognize Your Progress and Celebrate the Small Successes in Your Sobriety
Taking it one day at a time can make the resolution to lead a sober life seem more manageable and less overwhelming. Instead of thinking about a year from now, or even a month, focus on getting through each day without using drugs or alcohol. Over time, while there will be continued struggles and triggers this will get easier. Once you have reached significant milestones, one week sober, one month, sixty days, and so on, you should celebrate these important milestones. Recovering from substance abuse is one of the most important things that you can do for yourself and sticking to this resolution should be celebrated at every milestone.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help to Stay Drug and Alcohol-Free
Just like anything else, it is much easier to travel down the path of sobriety when you have a strong team that has your back. This may be a support system of friends or family that are invested in your sobriety. Addiction professionals and therapists can also help to provide the support that you need to live everyday drug and alcohol free. Recognize that there will be struggles down the road, as long-term sobriety is seldom smooth sailing, what matters is how you address these bumps. Having a support system behind you can help to make sure you overcome these challenges, continuing your recovery.
It isn’t unusual for a resolution to live a drug and alcohol-free life to be broken down the road. Instead of beating yourself up over these relapses, begin again making changes to eliminate the triggers that caused the relapse. From here you can once again celebrate the important milestones on the sobriety timeline. Many addicts make the mistake of assuming that a relapse means that they cannot do it. This couldn’t be further from the truth, as journeying to a sober way of living is filled with turns and twists. The most important thing is that you get right back up and continue to strive to live a life substance free.
Whether a full-blown addiction or just a need to live sober, the New Year is a great time to resolve to make a change to better yourself and the relationships in your life.
