With 2023 upon us, there are a lot of people who are interested in setting New Year’s resolutions. For example, you might be setting a resolution to exercise more during the upcoming year, or you might be interested in eating a healthy diet.
For those of us in addiction recovery, it is important to set New Year’s resolutions that will prioritize your long-term health and sobriety. By dedicating yourself to resolutions now, you can formulate a plan to put yourself in the best position possible to be successful.
Take a look at a few of the most important resolutions you may want to make for 2023, and make sure you prioritize your physical and mental health by focusing on your long-term sobriety.
5 Helpful Resolutions for People in Recovery
1. Strengthen Relationships With Your Family Members And Friends
For those in addiction recovery, one of the most important resolutions is to strengthen relationships with family members and friends. Addiction takes a toll on everybody, not just the individual who has a substance abuse disorder. Many people struggle to maintain strong relationships with family members, friends, and colleagues.
One of the most important resolutions you may want to make during the recovery process is to strengthen your relationship with your family members and friends. Consider reaching out to family members and friends to ask how they are doing. Then, when they return the favor, be honest with them.
It is important to have strong relationships with your family members and friends because you will need to lean on them during the recovery process. They can provide you with the support you need to keep the focus on your sobriety in 2023 and beyond.
2. Ask For Help When You Need It
Next, make a resolution to ask for help when you need it. Many people are fiercely independent, and you may feel like you can recover on your own. On the other hand, you will dramatically increase your chances of making a successful recovery and protecting your sobriety if you ask for help when you need it.
There are different types of help that could be beneficial during the recovery process. For example, you may want to lean on your family members for support. If you let them know they are struggling, they will provide you with extra attention, care, and assistance that can help you focus on the most important goal: your sobriety.
Then, there might be other situations where you need to reach out and ask a professional to help you. For example, you might need to contact an inpatient center if you are looking for help with the detox process, or you may want to reach out to an outpatient therapist or psychiatrist who can customize a treatment plan to meet your needs. In 2023, make a resolution to ask for help when you need it.
3. Pick Up A New Hobby In 2023
If you want to maximize your chances of remaining sober, you need to identify behavioral patterns that led to addiction and substance abuse in the first place. Then, you need to make changes in those behavioral patterns to help you with your long-term sobriety.
As a result, you may find yourself with new hobbies that you need to pick up. A few examples of hobbies you may want to try include:
- Consider exploring some of the state parks in the local area. Perhaps you can find some family members and friends to go with you.
- Think about cooking more at home. If you cook more at home, you will probably eat healthier. You may even want to sign up for some cooking classes in the local area.
- Consider learning a new language. If you have a family member or friend who speaks a second language, consider learning the basics of their language. They will probably appreciate it.
- Think about learning a musical instrument. If you have ever wanted to play the piano or the violin, now might be the time to do so.
You need to find something new that you are passionate about. This is a critical part of the recovery process.
4. Establish A Regular Exercise Routine
Addiction and substance abuse are different for everyone. That is why a customizable treatment plan is important for your recovery. At the same time, one of the most common reasons why people develop substance abuse and addiction issues is that they do not have a healthy way to cope with stress.
You need to find a healthier way to cope with stress, and one option is to exercise regularly. Regular exercise is beneficial for not only your physical health but your mental health as well. If you exercise regularly, you can improve your energy levels, strength, and stamina. Furthermore, regular exercise releases endorphins that make you feel happy.
If it has been a long time since you exercised regularly, you need to start slowly to prevent yourself from getting hurt. For example, you may want to start by walking around the neighborhood for a half-hour every day. Then, as you get in better shape, you may want to try jogging or running.
If running is not really your thing, you may want to consider signing up for some yoga or pilates classes in the local area. Some of the gyms might provide you with a free trial class to give you an opportunity to see if you like it.
5. Maintain A Positive Mindset in 2023
Finally, one of the most important resolutions you can make for 2023 is to maintain a positive mindset. If you have a substance abuse disorder, it is easy to feel down on yourself. You might feel like you have hurt those around you, and you might even be concerned that you have derailed your career.
Even though it is important to recognize these obstacles, you should not define yourself with these shortcomings. Everyone makes mistakes, and nobody is expected to be perfect. These issues do not make you a bad person, and you need to maintain a positive mindset instead.
Therefore, you need to celebrate the successes. For example, you may want to celebrate the anniversary of your sobriety. This includes the one-week mark, the one-month mark, and even the one-year mark. If you set goals for yourself throughout 2023, you can celebrate them when you reach them. That way, you can maintain a positive mindset, which can help you stay sober.
Resolutions for Long-Term Addiction Recovery
At Riverside Recovery, we always put the needs of our patients, clients, and residents ahead of our own. We understand that addiction takes a toll not only on the individual but also on his or her family members and friends. That is why we take a well-rounded approach to the recovery process.
We can customize your treatment plan to meet your needs, and it would be our pleasure to provide you with a solid foundation that can set the stage for a solid 2023 and beyond.
Contact us today to speak to a member of our admissions team, and let us help you focus on your sobriety.