May is National Recommitment Month, a time to reevaluate life and recommit to the things that matter most. For those in recovery, it’s an opportunity to renew the promises you’ve made to your loved ones and to yourself —vows to stay clean and sober.
Take a look at some key ways to recommit to recovery and enjoy the benefits of a healthy, sober lifestyle.
Set Measurable Goals
Long-term recovery requires daily — or even hourly — commitment to your goals. Setting small, measurable goals can help you feel accomplished and provide renewed energy for your overall aim of healthy, sober living.
If you want to eat better to support your recovery, for example, plan specific steps you’ll take to achieve that aim. That may include goals such as, “I will buy fresh produce at the grocery store this week,” and “I will eat fruit and vegetables today.” Celebrate every victory, no matter how small. After all, making healthy choices about food and exercise can have a direct impact on your state of mind, and thus on your recovery as a whole.
Remove Reminders of Addiction
Look around your house, your car, and your workplace to see if anything in these spaces takes your mind back to days of substance abuse. If you discover that you’ve been holding onto drug paraphernalia, drinking glasses, or any photos, videos, or music associated with addiction, get rid of these relics right away. Anything that distracts from your recovery goals is a hindrance to your progress, and it needs to go.
Attend Meetings
When you first got sober, you may have been fully dedicated to attending meetings several times a week. But in the busyness of life, your attendance may have dropped off. Perhaps you’ve justified your absence by telling yourself you didn’t really need the help anymore—but evidence from your daily life says otherwise.
The good news is that it’s never too late to start fresh. Renew your commitment to attending meetings and rejoining a community of recovering addicts. Whether it’s a local 12-step program or SMART Recovery, participating in meetings near you can help facilitate your recommitment to recovery.
Seek Support
The people around you influence your thoughts and your actions, for better or worse. That’s why it’s so important to surround yourself with positive people who care about your recovery. A strong support network is critical to long-term success.
Reach out to your sponsor or another mentor who can provide guidance and encouragement as you recommit to recovery. If you have a group of loving family members or friends, enlist their support as well. You need a team of like-minded people to help you achieve your recovery goals and sustain your long-term commitment to sobriety.
Serve Others
A key aspect of recovery is contributing to the needs of others. Not only does this benefit your community, but it also boosts your own self-esteem. It’s especially helpful for recovering addicts to see themselves as helpful members of the community, particularly if the past is checkered with regret.
If you’ve been narrowly focused on yourself, look outward and do something to help those who are less fortunate. Spending time with people who have fallen on hard times can help restore your gratitude for the blessings you’ve been given, and for all the progress you’ve made.
Recovery requires a lifelong commitment to staying sober, but the work is worth it. By rededicating yourself to clean living, you can reap the benefits of renewed health, improved self-esteem, and a positive outlook.
Are you ready to recommit to your recovery? Contact our trained admissions counselors at (888) 984-5288 to find out how Beachside Rehab can help.