Transforming Your New Year’s Resolutions Into Better Habits

There is no denying that addiction is a severe condition that can negatively impact the quality of life for those who struggle with it. Many use New Year to make a resolution to recover from substance use disorder (SUD). Building healthy habits makes any resolution achievable. To do so, consider:

• Creating new routines that will support healthy habits in the future.
• Setting smaller goals that will lead to bigger ones.
• Be specific about what it is that you want to achieve.
• Remember why it is essential.

Building Healthy Habits

For many people with SUD, the first steps in recovery can seem daunting or impossible. People fear admitting that they have problems or challenges to resolve. Yet, building healthier habits calls for admitting those shortcomings in our lives. Many recover from addiction by building healthy habits that can help them keep their life together. The recovery process can take years, sometimes even lifetimes, for people to get back on track with their lives. It takes work to build healthy habits. It may sound cliché, but you have to make a conscious effort toward becoming a healthier person and build healthy habits as you go along to succeed at getting and staying clean.
Seeing yourself as someone who struggles might be intimidating, but you will learn what motivates you and the steps needed to accomplish your goals. When done correctly, this can be rewarding know-how that will help fuel your motivation throughout the recovery process.

Healthy Habits for SUD Recovery

People often make good intentions but do not follow through with resolutions. The following list can help you:

Determine which habits to focus on first: Momentum makes all the difference in building healthy habits. Start with a manageable goal like attending two recovery meetings a week or avoiding your former spots for substance use. Once you’re in the habit of doing these things, it will be easier to tackle another goal like entering treatment. After all, many find it difficult to change everything at once!

Find a balance: Balance is essential. We must take care of ourselves to maintain our recovery. Sometimes we forget about ourselves and focus too heavily on work or family life or our recovery programs without any time for self-care. Give yourself time for self-care—whether it’s taking 10 minutes out of every day for a meditation session or going to bed and waking up at the same time every day. Without proper balance, we often fall into anxiety, fatigue, or more. Such conditions leave us vulnerable to a relapse. As such, make time in your schedule for self-care.

Find a support system: if you don’t have any support, it can be hard to maintain motivation to make such changes. Find a support system by enlisting your friends and family to help you with your choice to build healthier habits and recover. They can help you stay accountable for your goals. It also may motivate them if they’re following the exact resolution! Additionally, consider seeking support from a peer in recovery. They can provide insight into maintaining long-term recovery. Seeing a peer in recovery often provides a sense of hope from seeing another living an addiction-free life after substance abuse. They can advise you on great recovery meetings in your area or treatment facilities for alcohol or drug treatment.

Create a schedule: Create a plan for each day so you can be more productive. Adhering to a schedule will help you stay on track with your resolutions and make the most out of your time. For example, if you resolve to improve your fitness, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, go for a 30-minute walk around your neighborhood after breakfast. Or you can schedule the frequency and times for you to attend a recovery meeting each week. The easiest way to keep up with your resolutions is by creating a schedule that works for you!

Plan a reward for yourself: Try adding a reward system if you have difficulty sticking with your resolutions. Research has shown that people are more likely to meet their goals if they have the opportunity to receive an incentive for doing so. Rewarding yourself for meeting your resolutions can be as simple as a weekend trip or purchasing a particular item for your hobby.

Attend local recovery meetings: One resolution that can save your life is to attend local recovery meetings like NA or AA meetings. These organizations have been around for more than 50 years, helping addicts and alcoholics recover. These meetings provide many benefits like:

• They allow you to understand the disease of alcoholism or SUD.
• It makes it easier for you to speak about your SUD with people who care about you.
• Providing an opportunity for people in recovery to share their experiences with others who may be struggling with addiction.
• It brings people together and gives them a community where they can receive support from one another.

Enroll in a treatment program: Treatment programs can benefit those struggling with addiction. Research shows them as the most effective way for a person to recover for many provide detoxification, behavioral therapies, around-the-clock care, etc.

Addiction is a severe condition that negatively impacts the quality of life. Many use their  New Year’s resolutions as a good time to recover from SUD. Recovering from a SUD asks for us to build new healthy habits. Creating and maintaining a new routine isn’t always easy. But with the proper determination and a few helpful tips, you can stick to your goals and accomplish any plan you pursue with due diligence. We recommend seeking help from professionals in the field, like a therapist and peers in recovery. They can advise you on the best course of action while encouraging you on the path of recovery. At Restoration Recovery Center, we provide treatment for people struggling with addiction. We help them recover in a way that is comfortable and empowering. So if you’re ready for recovery this new year, come to us! To learn more about our program, contact us at  (888) 290-0925.