Motivation is one of, if not the most, crucial aspects of recovery. Motivation defines the reasons behind why we act the way we do or why we behave in a specific way. A lot of times, in early recovery, the motivation level to stay sober are very high and you have tons of plans and ideas in place to stay sober. The problem is, as time passes, motivation can begin to dwindle for many different reasons.
Perhaps it is because life has become too stressful or your job and new responsibilities are just overwhelming and you don’t have a solid enough outlet for that. Maybe you just don’t feel like life is as fun sober, so you become bored and the motivation leaves you. When motivation leaves and fatigue of recovery hits, this is when relapse becomes a real haunting concern. There are many different things you can do to stay motivated in recovery.
- Set Achievable Goals for Yourself – Setting both short-term and long-term goals is a great way to stay motivated. Setting goals for yourself is like having checkpoints. You can keep track of them and give yourself a rewarding feeling for your accomplishments and progress. It is important to make sure your goals are measurable, attainable, and specific so you know when you have accomplished them.
- Stay connected – There are so many different ways to connect with others in the recovery community. The most widely known and used way to connect with other people dealing with the same things you are is through recovery meetings. These can be found almost anywhere and is a good source to stay motivated and immersed in your recovery.
- Make A List of Gratitude – Recovery isn’t always easy. Life still happens on life’s terms. During the not so east times, it is important to remember why we are doing all of this. Creating a gratitude list is a great way to remind yourself. There is always something to be grateful for when you’re sober!
- Work a 12-Step Program – Working the 12 steps with a sponsor can help you have a guide through recovery and it also gives you a program of action to keep you motivated and help you through tough situations. These programs also provide a reliable source of fellowship, spirituality, accountability, and support.
- Create Structure in Your Life – Sometimes being in recovery can make life feel like chaos. When you create a structured schedule of healthy and uplifting activities, you can create a sense of order within your life.
- Practice Self Care – Amongst the daily responsibilities of life, it is vitally important to continue to do things for yourself. It is easy to get too caught up in the busy schedules and routines of life. Between work, meetings, relationships, outside obligations, etc, it is easy to forget to take time to care for ourselves. It is important to find a balance between all of these things.
- Maintain Healthy Habits – Addiction and alcoholism can create a lot of damage to our bodies. When we maintain healthy habits like eating right, exercising, and sleeping enough we can improve the symptoms of depression and anxiety. When those symptoms are lessened, it is easier to stay motivated.
Staying motivated in recovery isn’t always easy, but it certainly is worth it. You can find motivation from anywhere if you are looking and working for it. There are no downsides to staying sober. By indulging in these different techniques, you are setting yourself up for long-term success.