Did you go out to dinner with friends and order water? Did you take a different route to avoid a bar you used to frequent? Did you take time to journal or meditate today? Did you get out of bed on a bad day? Whether you’ve been in recovery for one day, one week or one year, all of these seemingly small victories add up.
Addiction recovery takes work, persistence, continual learning and motivation – and celebrating your successes (no matter how small) along the way can empower you to keep the positive momentum going. Of course, your first step is to acknowledge your progress. Keeping a journey is a great way to track your recovery wins. Then, how you celebrate your victories is up to you! Just be sure that you do so in a healthy and sober way.
Here are a few ideas:
- Write down small wins on a piece of paper and drop them in a mason jar. This way you can revisit these victories anytime you need motivation or encouragement.
- Keep a recovery win journal and writing down daily wins that have helped with your recovery.
- Give yourself the gift of time. Allow yourself an hour to focus on something you always put off, without feeling guilty.
- Pack a picnic and head to the park or go for a long hike.
- Pamper yourself. Take a bubble bath or give yourself a facial.
- Arrange a movie night or afternoon in the park with someone who has supported you and your recovery.
- Try a new hobby, like learning to play an instrument or taking art classes.
- Visit a new place.
- Join a local recovery event.
- Give back to your recovery community by volunteering or simply sharing your story with others.
Begin SMART Recovery at Complete Harmony
An effective alternative to 12-step programs, SMART Recovery® teaches self-empowering addiction recovery. Clients learn to make self-directed change in order to replace destructive decisions with healthy ones. To learn more, call today: 866-930-4673.
