This is the year, you tell yourself. This is the year you will finally get sober. If your New Year’s resolution is to overcome your substance addiction, here are some ways to make sure this is one resolution that sticks. May you achieve your goal and have a happy—and healthy—New Year.
- Have a positive mindset. Don’t think of sobriety as giving something up. Instead, view it as gaining a whole new life.
- Tell people you trust about your goal. This can build accountability, as well as a valuable support team.
- Get rid of your triggers. Clear out any alcohol or drugs from your home so there is less temptation. Those triggers can also include friends who encourage your substance abuse.
- Set small but practical goals. Instead of going cold turkey on your own, set specific, realistic, attainable benchmarks—and give yourself a deadline to meet them.
- Find a treatment program. A professional and highly qualified addiction recovery program can give you a solid foundation for your sobriety.
- Change unhealthy habits. Instead of grabbing drinks after work, go to the gym. Build a healthy lifestyle to support your sobriety.
- Join a recovery group. A 12-step meeting you attend regularly can provide support and encouragement during tough times.
- Stay busy. Fill the hours you normally spent on your addiction with new hobbies and activities.
- Don’t be too hard on yourself. Instead of beating yourself up over a setback, look at what you are achieving and celebrate the goals you accomplish.
- Commit to doing the work. Sobriety isn’t effortless. Be prepared to dig into the hard stuff, such as working with a therapist to look at the mental and emotional issues underlying your addiction.
- Relieve stress in a healthy way. If you turned to substances to cope, develop healthier techniques such as meditation, exercise, or journaling.
- Don’t focus on the past. If you’ve tried and failed at sobriety resolutions before, remind yourself that this is a new year and you can make change for the better.
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