Tips for Staying Motivated in Addiction Recovery
“Recovery is not a moment in time or a specific destination, it’s an ongoing process and way of being. Recovery will have its ups and downs, the key to staying motivated is to keep finding ways to learn regardless of what life throws at you. So keep moving forward!” – Dr. Harshal Kirane, Medical Director, Wellbridge Addiction Treatment & Research Center
Motivation – the driving force behind why we act a certain way – is a key component in a successful recovery. During the early stages of recovery, goals and plans are put in place that drive motivation. There is an active support system motivating you. However, for many, that motivation begins to decrease. Maybe our motivation is being tied up elsewhere, or perhaps we forget our early motivations in the first place. Whatever the reason is, the feeling of a lack of motivation can be temporary. Your sobriety is worth working through the times where you aren’t so certain.
Below are 5 tips to stay motivated in addiction from our substance use disorder (SUD) treatment experts at Wellbridge.
5 Tips for Staying Motivated in Addiction Recovery
We know how difficult a recovery journey can be at times – so we’ve asked a few of our resident addiction treatment experts to provide their best advice to help you through it.
Remember Your Reasons Why
When you’re feeling a lack of motivation in addiction recovery, a great first step in regaining that motivation is to reconnect with your reason for starting your recovery journey in the first place. During treatment at Wellbridge, we teach a similar method (benefits of sobriety/consequences of use) as a coping skill for handling difficult triggers. Re-centering yourself around your original motivations can be a powerful motivator in and of itself.
Find (or Create) Structure In Your Life
Chaos naturally causes stress, which can eventually feel overwhelming and cause you to lose motivation across all facets of life. By creating structure and implementing healthy activities (such as healthy eating or physical habits) in your day-to-day routine, you reduce the chaos causing distress and lack of motivation.
Maintain Healthy Habits
Maintaining healthy eating, sleeping and exercise habits supports you mentally and physically, reversing some of the damage that addiction has done on our body. Following a healthy routine can alleviate bad moods and anxiety, keeping you in a positive mindset and motivated in addiction recovery.
Connect with Your Support System
If you are struggling staying motivated in addiction recovery, connecting with others on the journey with you can be a great way to stay motivated. In today’s society, there are so many opportunities to connect with others in recovery! From traditional meetings to online meetings to social communities – there are many options out there to find the right space for you.
Reach Out for Help
Recovery is a life-long journey. As Dr. Kirane said, there will be ups and downs. If you are struggling with your sobriety, being open and honest about that struggle with expert treatment professionals may be what you need. Our advanced treatment program focuses on individualized care plans that identify your motivations and give you the tools to stay motivated, with the goal of setting you up for long-term sobriety success.
If you are needing advanced support, contact us today.