20 Jan 5 Totally Achievable New Year’s Resolutions for Recovering Addicts

2020 signals the start of a new decade and for many people, it feels like a new opportunity. An opportunity to right the ship and learn from the mistakes of one’s past. Call it a clean slate, a new beginning, or any other expression you can think of. Truth be told, it takes more than just a flip of a calendar year to recover from alcohol or substance abuse, and recovering addicts know this all too well.

But there’s something with new year’s resolutions that motivate people to change. Maybe because it’s the perfect time to commit to something, whether it be replacing bad habits or sticking to an addiction recovery treatment. Starting the new year on a positive note can certainly have a trickle-down effect and for recovering addicts, now is the chance to make life-changing decisions.

These 6 new year’s resolutions can definitely be achieved and will help steer you back in the right direction. Start your year right and commit to these small, practical goals.

1. Lean on loved ones for support

As the saying goes, no man is an island. It’s likely that you have friends and family members who have your best interests at heart. If they are reaching out to help you, don’t push them away and instead, lean on their support to help you push through barriers. Choose people who are genuinely interested in helping you recover from addiction and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Confide in them and allow them to lift you back up.

This one small change can have a dramatic impact on your road to recovery so surround yourself with loved ones that are willing to support you with everything they have.

2. Stay positive

When you’re struggling, it’s easy to blame the world and become bitter to those around you. It’s this resentment that holds back many recovering addicts. If you truly wish to turn your life around, you have to let those feelings go. Cultivate a positive mindset and welcome the new year with a renewed perspective – positive thoughts, positive words, positive feelings, positive actions. You’ll be surprised as to how much of a chain reaction this makes and you’ll feel one step closer to living sober.

3. Take accountability for your actions

Along those same lines, it’s time to stop blaming others and start taking accountability for your actions. You make your own decisions. The consequences are a result of your own doing, and not other people. Own it to yourself to make responsible decisions that can help accelerate your recovery and this could be through avoiding familiar triggers, cutting off toxic relationships, and replacing your bad habits with healthier ones.

4. Rekindle your lost passion

Some people end up throwing away their passions due to alcohol and substance abuse. If that’s you, then you should definitely consider rekindling your interests and give it another shot. Doing something you love is what gives you purpose, whether it be playing a guitar, playing basketball, or making art. When you’re genuinely interested in what you’re doing, it clears off any distractions in your mind. You’re in deeper focus and the temptations suddenly appear less tempting as they seem.

Try it and see how it feels. Before you know it, you’re back on track doing the things you love, with a huge smile on your face to go along with it.

5. Believe in yourself again

The feelings of regret and disappointment are often present in the hearts of recovering addicts and it can definitely impact their self-esteem. But no matter how many mistakes you’ve made, no matter how deep you got caught into your addiction, do remember that there’s always a way back. You just have to believe in yourself again. It’s this self-belief that will allow you to defeat your inner demons and set yourself up for future success.

6. Forgive yourself

The one mistake most recovering addicts make is wallowing in self-pity. You can either feel sorry for yourself, or dust yourself off and get back on track. It’s about time you forgive yourself for the things that you’ve done. Just because you made a huge mistake, it doesn’t mean you don’t deserve a second chance. The power of forgiveness is capable of lifting that heavy burden in your heart and allowing you to start anew. You deserve another chance to make things right and the moment you forgive yourself, is the moment you’ll be freed from the shackles of your past.

With the start of the new year, now is the opportunity to make lasting life changes. You don’t have to do everything at once, you just have to take action or at least start by talking to an effective drug and alcohol rehab in Bali. Like they always say, small steps lead to huge successes. These 6 new year’s resolutions will help you stick to your addiction recovery and hopefully, set you up for a clean, sober lifestyle.