Maintaining Motivation During Recovery

Motivation is a skill and sometimes you can do it well and other times you just have to be content to make it through the day. The good news is, that like any skill, the more you practice motivating yourself and creating the right conditions for motivation, the easier it gets. Whether it’s what you read or watch, the people you talk to, or your own self-talk, try to stay positive with uplifting news, people who encourage you, and thinking that’s going to help you meet your recovery goals. Change takes work, but it can’t be harder than living with unresolved addiction, trauma, and other disorders. If you or someone you love needs help, we’re ready and waiting.

This does not mean they are “in denial.” It simply means they might benefit from some outside guidance. Motivational interviewing may recovery motivation be a beneficial tool to help these folks. These individuals will greatly benefit from professional and/or non-professional help.

How Do You Improve Your Self-Awareness in Addiction Recovery?

Motivation is essential for long-term sobriety, and here is what will happen with motivation as your guiding force in recovery. One can find meaning in spirituality through organized religions, AA/ NA groups, nature, music, groups of people, or an understanding of a higher power. Feeling connected to something bigger than yourself can help keep you motivated and accountable to continue your recovery journey.

Another common reason for why people lose motivation in recovery is that they had unrealistic expectations to begin with. They may have believed giving up alcohol or drugs would have made their life perfect. They did not realize that giving up the substance abuse is only the start of their journey. If people expect this in recovery, then they are highly likely to be disappointed. It is unreasonable to expect that life in sobriety will always be perfect, or that all the problems of the past will be solved overnight.

Practice self-care

Reliance on any information provided by this website is solely at your own risk. Let us help you determine if our program is right for your situation, discuss insurance coverage, payment options, and let you know what to expect upon arriving at treatment. A well-known quote in Alcoholics Anonymous is, “To keep it, you must give it away.” Helping others who are struggling can give people hope and strength to continue with their own recovery. It allows people to recognize where they are and how far they have come in their journey. It could be as little as offering a ride to a meeting or setting up chairs and making coffee, or it could be as much as becoming a sponsor or acting as a guest speaker at a local event.

• Once you find internal motivation, then the objective is learning how to hold on to this motivation even as the road gets rocky and your hope wavers.
• Addiction is often described as a disease of loneliness so building a support network early in treatment is a key step toward recovery.
• If you have decided to enter a treatment plan toward long-term sobriety, you have made a great first step.
• If you are seeking recovery because you personally want to obtain a better life and push through any mental health issues that have been holding you down, then you are intrinsically motivated.
• Instead of focusing on the relapse itself, think through the entire thing–the next hour, the next day, the next week, and so on.
• This type of criticism is often not a true reflection of what is happening because even the person who sits around all day can be motivated.

Staying motivated in recovery isn’t always easy, but it certainly is worth it. You can find motivation from anywhere if you are looking and working for it. By indulging in these different techniques, you are setting yourself up for long-term success. Stay connected – There are so many different ways to connect with others in the recovery community. The most widely known and used way to connect with other people dealing with the same things you are is through recovery meetings. These can be found almost anywhere and is a good source to stay motivated and immersed in your recovery.

Community Cooking

Remind yourself of the good decisions you have made, like entering treatment to fight your addiction. There can be many ways you can motivate yourself to stay sober, what is firstly important is recognizing that you have a disorder and wanting to begin the healing process for yourself. This involves looking inside, remembering why you chose to embark down this path, and fulfilling your personal goals by never losing faith in yourself. Meditate, walk in nature, journal, volunteer at a shelter, attend a service, read spiritual literature. There are so many ways to explore your spirituality, and it is a process that should be constantly evolving and deepening. In which I guide you through 3 simple steps to use your autism to youradvantagein recovery. The nightly review routine is an easy process to miss if we aren’t careful.

Finding motivation to stay sober can be as challenging as becoming inspired to get sober. But people can stay sober by confiding in loved ones who are emotionally invested in their sobriety, communicating with others in recovery and remembering how difficult life was prior to sobriety. Upon completing rehab, individuals should seek aftercare. These services include counseling, 12-step programs and sober housing. Engaging in aftercare services is a critical component to recovery because 40 to 60 percent of people who complete treatment experience relapse.