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Once you’re home from treatment, detox, or whatever steps you took to get sober, you have the rest of your life to look forward to…except that things are different now, aren’t they? Between the new rules you’ve established for yourself (no more hanging out at Eddie’s, gotta check in with my sponsor tomorrow) to the list of goals that may now be hovering at the back of your mind (pay off my debts by the summer, sign up for online classes, start working out) it might seem as though you barely recognize your day-to-day life anymore. Here are some suggestions for ways to take initiative and intentionally live your new life to serve your own best interests.
Establish Regular Check-Ins
Make a habit to actively communicate about your progress in recovery with people who you trust. Check in with your treatment professionals, sponsor, or recovery counselor for one-on-one personalized follow ups on how you’re handling your new life. Connect with peers in sobriety at 12-Step groups or other meetings you might attend. The overwhelming majority of people in recovery find that regular contact with other people on the same path can greatly increase your personal motivation, curb feelings of isolation, and stoke your commitment to your goals.
Self-assessment is another key component of your life in sobriety. Don’t expect your support system to do all the work for you; make sure you’re being honest with yourself about how you’re doing day to day. Keep track of your progress, your cravings, your worries, and your inner monologue. Acknowledge if you have any dangerous feelings or thoughts and follow your recovery plan with intent. At the end of the day, you’ve got to trust yourself to act in your own favor as much as possible.
Set New Personal Goals
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build your day-to-day routine from the ground up. Take some time to think about your personal goals, not just in sobriety but in who you are as a person. Consider building regular exercise, brain stimulation, social activity, and spiritual nourishment into your schedule. On top of the immediate physical, mental, and emotional benefits, you’ll find comfort and stability in having a structured schedule of recurring activities.
This is also a great chance to establish some short-to-mid-term goals for yourself. Think about where you want to be professionally, financially, and personally in the next year or two. If you want to save money and hit certain financial targets, make a plan to save or invest a certain amount each week. If you want to start dating again, take some practical steps like speaking with that friend of yours who likes setting people up or creating a new online dating profile (many of which now offer options to search based on compatibility of attitude towards substance use!).
Join New Social Groups
Social interaction is a huge part of fending off the dangerous tendency towards isolation. For some, this will mean joining a book club, playing on a sports team, or attending community meetups. For others, it might mean speaking with close friends on the phone, sending letters, or hanging out on video calls. A great number of people in recovery find solace and companionship in attending 12-Step programs and other similar sobriety groups. Know yourself and do what works best for you.
As you’re planning your social involvement, be sure to plan how you’ll incorporate your sobriety. If you’re going to spend time with people who you know drink or use drugs, be aware of how those conversations might go down. Form a plan going in, know your limits, and decide in advance how you want to handle introducing those limits if you should need to do so.
Give Yourself Credit--and Patience
No matter how carefully you stick to your plans and follow the rules, there will be hard days. Some days you might not have the strength to pursue your goals or take big steps, and that’s normal. You’re a human being, susceptible to emotional ups and downs just like everyone else, and you’ve got to let yourself be okay with that. Keep your standards high, yes, but make sure to give yourself credit where it’s due. You’ve come this far.
Remember, recovery is a process. Nobody expects you to jump up and land back on your feet right away, and neither should you. It’s okay if a day goes by where the only progress you make is not drinking or using again. That still counts as a day you took in the right direction. Give yourself patience, replenish your motivation, and keep your eye on the prize--your new future of health, success, and happiness.
When overcoming addiction, getting sober is just the first step. You have the tremendous chance to recreate your life by your own design. Make sure you take full advantage of this opportunity by availing yourself of every possible resource to walk into your future with vision, intention, and determination. At START UP RECOVERY, we know that recovery doesn’t happen overnight. Once you’re out of treatment, you’re ready to rebuild the rest of your life in keeping with your new goals. We offer a state-of-the-art sober living space, complete with every possible amenity and resource to help make your transition a successful one. We provide a fully personalized approach to your new life, from social support and prevention plans to career development and financial advising. Don’t just get sober--stay sober, stay strong, and take control of the rest of your life. Call (310) 773-3809 to learn more about how we can help you.