New Year’s Eve is a time of reflection for many. It is a time to reflect on the past year, with all its challenges and triumphs, and to look toward the future, with all its opportunities and possibilities. As you wait in anticipation for the clock to strike midnight, it’s a great time to start setting goals for who you want to be, what you want to accomplish, and how you’d like to feel in the new year.
Right now, you may be reading this and want to change your life around. Maybe you’ve begun noticing how often a drink is in your hand and wish to speak with a medical professional. Or perhaps you’ve been coping with feelings of loneliness or depression for long enough but are not quite sure of what that next step might be.
Make Your Recovery More than a New Year’s Resolution with This SMART Tool
One of the beautiful things about the new year is that it’s a timely, fresh start to start over. There is a special feeling about the beginning of a new year with endless opportunities. Though, we want to remind you that any time is perfect for seeking the treatment you deserve. Now is the perfect time to live the life you’ve always wanted.
Let this year be the year you decide enough is enough. Let this year be the year you make your recovery more than a New Year’s resolution but a lifetime commitment. For your friends. For your family. For yourself. If you’re looking to feel something different this next year and want to learn how to live a life with meaning and purpose, here are a few practical tools for a successful recovery path.
Setting SMART Goals That Last Beyond a Special Holiday
There is immense power in claiming a new life for yourself. Your words have power, and making a declaration to create a life worth living is one of the best ownership skills you can have. The best way to live out this declaration is by taking the next best step: Setting SMART goals.
If you’re unfamiliar with this practice, SMART stands for specific, measurable, accountable, realistic, and timely.
Specific –
To set clear goals, you are clearly communicating what you want to achieve. These are well-defined goals that help you understand what you want and the why behind it. For example, your goal may be: “I want to live a sober lifestyle without alcohol. This lifestyle will ensure that I have a clear mind to be available for my family when they need me the most.” This specific goal focuses on what you want to achieve – sobriety and why you want to achieve sobriety – to be there for your family.
Measurable –
To set quantifiable goals is to track your progress. By tracking your progress, you can see where you started and how far you’ve come. Tracking measurable goals can be a great motivator to see your progress. For example, If your goal is to quit drinking alcohol so you can live a sober lifestyle to be present for your family, a calendar is a great way to track your goals. Even just a few days without alcohol marked on the calendar can be a great encouragement to keep going, as it’s a physical reminder of all the work that you’ve accomplished.
Accountability –
Accountability plays a vital role in addiction recovery. Having a supportive community holds you accountable for your actions. Once you’ve set specific, measurable goals, your support system can help encourage you during your milestones and hold you up when you feel your lowest. A strong support system has proven to increase your chances of a successful recovery.
If you say you are going to quit drinking and your immediate goal is to not drink for at least seven days, your mentor can check in on you and see how you’re achieving your sobriety goals. Accountability helps you realize that people are rooting for you and your success. There are people in your corner. This can be a significant motivating factor to help keep you on track. Not only does accountability motivate you, but it can also help you take responsibility for your actions. The recovery journey isn’t easy, but it’s incredibly worth it. Accountability allows you to re-focus on the low days and encourage you on the good ones.
Relevant –
When setting relevant goals, these are the goals that align with your overall journey. Your goal may be to live a sober lifestyle, free from alcohol. To ensure a relevant goal, one first step you can take is to get rid of any alcohol in your home. This relevant goal aligns with your overall goal to be present for your family because it removes the temptation to drink. Another relevant goal may be to stop going to bars on the weekends with friends. You can better achieve your goals at home and are more likely to succeed when you abstain from triggering places.
Timely –
Setting a goal date for sobriety is a great way to maintain focus and momentum. Many of you may read this at the start of the new year. Thus, your goal may be to live one year clean and sober – to celebrate the next holiday season alcohol-free. Setting a date and time aligns with your measurable goal because you can track your progress all year. With timely goals, you can regularly check in, see what’s working, and make adjustments for things that aren’t.
Your Successful Recovery Path Begins Now
Whether you’re starting the first day of 2024 or reading this year from now, we want you to know that recovery is possible. We recognize that the path to recovery isn’t always an easy one. There may be days when you feel like giving up. We are here for you every step of the journey. There is a way out; There is a path to freedom. We invite you today to start living the life you’ve always wanted – full of thriving relationships, abundance, personal growth, peace, and joy. So much goodness is waiting for you on the other side of addiction. We believe in you, and we believe in your victory.
If you or a loved one are facing addiction and want to choose now to begin a new life in recovery, there is hope. We want to see you flourish in 2024 and beyond. With 20 conveniently located addiction treatment centers across Texas, we at Positive Recovery Centers have a treatment plan for you. Your successful recovery path begins now. To learn more about what addiction treatment plan is best for you, we invite you to call us at 877-697-1383. You can also visit our website to learn more about our various drug and alcohol treatment programs.