Recovery from addiction is more than just going through the motions so that you can get “better.” It’s really about setting goals for yourself and meeting them so that you can feel accomplished at the end of the day. These don’t have to be major, life-changing goals that you set from the beginning either.
How To Set Goals In Recovery
When going through drug rehab, your sponsor or therapist will likely set small goals at the start, ones that are attainable. These goals should always be realizable through dedication and work and without fear of failure. The goal of “getting better” shouldn’t even be a goal; setting specific goals in mind will help you feel like you’re actually progressing in your rehabilitation journey.
Questions To Consider
When setting goals, there are some key questions you should keep in mind.
● What are you working towards?
● Where and how can you start?
● What are you hoping to achieve?
● What small steps can you take to get there?
● How long will it take you to accomplish this goal?
● How will you know you’ve achieved your goal?
Speaking with a counselor can help you figure out these questions and create a plan to achieve them within your own schedule.
The Benefits Of Achieving Goals
Studies have shown that accomplishing any goal will cause someone to feel a sense of accomplishment and pride and will be eager to try and achieve the next one. The steady climb towards sobriety becomes increasingly easier over time. It’s that positive feeling that will keep the recovering addict going in the right direction and they’re more likely to remain motivated with other aspects of their life as well.
Having goals also helps a patient learn that recovery is a gradual and continuous process, and doesn’t stop once they’ve kicked the habit. It’s a process that will likely follow them for the rest of their lives.
Creating SMART Objectives
Attainable goals should follow the SMART rules so that they’re easier to formulate.
● Specific: goals should be specific in nature.
● Measurable: goals should be measurable so that you can see how far you’ve come.
● Achievable: the smaller the goal, the easier it is to achieve. You don’t start running a marathon before you’ve trained for it.
● Relevant: the goals should fit the goal the person is trying to achieve. Any goals that aren’t relevant should be eliminated.
● Time-bound: there should be a specific deadline for when a goal should be accomplished.
Of course, the setting of goals is subjective for each person; what works for one might not work for another. That’s why there’s no foolproof plan that works for everyone. Recovery is going to be different for each person, so it’s important that they each spend time striving towards their own goals.
If you’re having problems setting goals throughout your rehabilitation journey, consider speaking to a mentor or counselor to get you on the right path. Once you get started, you might discover how easy it is to set goals for yourself along the way.