New Year’s Resolutions Really Can Help Maintain Your Sobriety
If you are debating whether or not it is even worth it to make New Year’s resolutions this year, especially when it comes to the health of your recovery, the answer is a resounding “yes.” The fact is that when you make New Year’s resolutions that boost your sense of self-confidence, improve your health, and help you to feel better in general, you are better able to stay sober.
But what resolutions will really give you the boost you need to stay sober? And how do you set yourself up for success when it comes to keeping those resolutions so you don’t end up making your recovery harder? Here’s what you need to know.
Wellness Resolutions
For most of us, at any given time, there are a dozen or more wellness-related resolutions or goals that will help us to evolve into a better version of ourselves. In recovery, even the smallest positive change can manifest huge results in recovery. Each little change can trigger another positive change, a better mood, or an easier ability to fend off illness, all of which makes it easier to curb cravings for drugs or alcohol and manage triggers for relapse when they do happen.
You can:
- Maintain a healthy sleep schedule. Creating a comfortable, cool area that is conducive to sleep (e.g., dark, quiet) can help to ensure that the sleep you get each night is restorative in nature, giving your mind and your body a chance to rest and repair.
- Quit smoking. If you smoke, the best thing you can do for yourself is quit – not switch to vaping, but stop the use of nicotine altogether, making room for healthier lung functioning and a shift in focus to more healthful choices.
- Drink more water. If you’re looking for an easy resolution that will have a great benefit on your health, this is it. Start by drinking a glass of water with lemon on an empty stomach in the morning, make sure to drink a full glass of water after every meal and every time you brush your teeth, and if you still haven’t hit the recommended amount of water you need, then make it a point to sneak in a few more glasses throughout the day to keep your energy levels up and body functioning healthfully.
- Move more often. Sitting is not the new smoking but a sedentary lifestyle can make it harder to feel and stay healthy. Resolving to add healthy activity to your life can improve your cardiovascular health, your respiratory health, and your mood all in one fell swoop, which in turn gives your recovery a boost.
- Eat healthfully. The more fruits and vegetables you eat, the more varied your nutrient intake will be, which will improve your systems’ functioning, including your immune system – one of many ways that a few simple changes can add up to big health benefits that improve your ability to stay sober.
Wellness Resolutions Actionable Resolutions
It is easier to keep a resolution when it is specific and action-oriented than ones that sound good but are hard to pin down. Vague, theoretical ideas of change are nice, but if results are what you are looking for, get as detailed as possible in making your resolutions if you want to make them stick.
Wellness Resolutions Plan It, Track It, Celebrate It
Once you have a specific goal, choose an app, grab a journal or create a spreadsheet to track your progress. When you hit a mini milestone (e.g., a week of drinking 64 ounces of water every day or two weeks of regular workouts), celebrate!
How will your resolutions help you stay sober this year?
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