Each New Year brings a new opportunity to set resolutions that will help us live healthier lives. If you are in recovery from alcohol and drugs, it is crucial to create healthy New Year’s resolutions that will support your journey to a healthier lifestyle. Here, we will explore different ideas and plans for the coming year and what behavioral health specialists say about New Year’s resolutions. We will also discuss the importance of setting realistic goals and what to do if you fail to uphold a resolution.
Many people who have completed substance abuse treatment programs find the holidays challenging and struggle to maintain recovery in the new year. Insight Recovery Center in Asheville, North Carolina can help you or a loved one wrestling with substance use or co-occurring mental health disorders. Call 828.826.1376 for more information.
What Are Some Healthy Sober Goals for the Coming Year?
The first step in creating healthy New Year’s resolutions is to make sure they are realistic and achievable within the given timeframe. Start by making smaller goals that can be accomplished throughout the entire year instead of attempting one large one that might be difficult or impossible to complete. This could include activities such as:
- Attending weekly support group meetings
- Going for walks or runs three times a week
- Committing to getting eight hours of sleep each night
It is also important not to put too much pressure on yourself – focus on maintaining small changes over time instead of trying to do too much at once.
What Do Behavioral Health Specialists Say About New Year’s Resolutions?
Behavioral health specialists often recommend that those in recovery focus their New Year’s resolutions on self-care activities rather than avoidance behaviors. Examples of self-care activities include engaging in hobbies such as:
- Painting
- Writing
- Playing an instrument
- Participating in physical exercise
- Taking time off work
- Spending time with friends and family
- Meditating
- Eating a balanced diet
- Practicing good hygiene
- Getting enough sleep each night
Avoidance behaviors may include avoiding social situations such as parties or events where alcohol or drugs may be present, avoiding people who used drugs with you previously, or avoiding high-stress environments altogether.
What Is A Realistic Number Of Sober Goals For The New Year?
It is recommended that you make no more than five healthy resolutions for the new year so that you have time to commit to each one fully without feeling overwhelmed. Having too many resolutions can lead to burnout before you even get started! When selecting your five goals, it is important not only to consider things like physical health but emotional well-being as well—you should aim for a balance between both areas when creating your list of resolutions.
What Should You Do if You Fail To Uphold A New Year’s Resolution?
If you fail at upholding one of your resolutions during the course of the year, don’t give up! Instead, take some time out for reflection—look back at why this particular goal was important enough for you to make it part of your resolution list in the first place and think about how it would benefit your life if achieved successfully.
After reflecting on why this goal matters so much to you and why it would be beneficial if accomplished, reorganize by breaking down bigger goals into smaller tasks and setting specific timelines with achievable milestones along the way—this will help keep motivation levels high! Finally, remember that mistakes happen. Acknowledge them and move on without beating yourself up too much about them!
Contact Insight Recovery Center
Setting healthy New Year’s resolutions is an important part of recovery from alcohol or drug addiction – it helps build momentum toward a healthier lifestyle while providing motivation throughout the entire year. Let Insight Recovery Center in Asheville, NC help you or a loved one maintain sobriety throughout the new year. Call 828.826.1376 or contact us online to get started.