Motivational Tips For Staying Sober

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We all need a little motivation to get us out of bed in the morning and through the day. Sometimes it's as simple as knowing that your favorite TV show is on tonight and sometimes it's bigger like a vacation at the end of the month. Just like staying motivated to work out, you'll need to motivate yourself each day to stay sober if you're a recovering addict. What's motivating is different for each person but if you're stuck for ideas and need a little push in your recovery, consider some of these tips:

-put a calendar somewhere you will see it often, like your bathroom mirror, and mark off the days with a big red "x" to signify each day you've been sober. Seeing a whole week, whole month or whole year covered in red "x's" will be motivating and will help you see how far you've come. Once you get a whole week filled up with no blanks, you won't want to start back at day one.

-keep a journal of all the positive things you notice when you're sober. If it's the feeling you get from being able to remember your day or how good you feel when you wake up in the morning, write it down in detail. The more you describe when you're in that positive moment, the easier it will be for you to get back into that feeling when you read it again for motivation.

-set mini goals each day for yourself with mini rewards. Figure out what's important for you to do each day, like attending an AA meeting or staying positive and reward yourself when you achieve them. Make a deal with yourself that after you go to that meeting you can pick up an ice-cream on the way home. This gives you an incentive to go and something to look forward to after the meeting.

-set big goals for yourself with big rewards. It's nice to have little incentives to get you through the day but you should also plan some bigger goals and rewards. Plan a trip for when you make it 6 months without a drink or plan a spa day. Let a friend or family member know your plans so they can hold you accountable and remind you of what's at stake if you're thinking of slipping up.

-find a friend or family member that will be just as excited as you are for your achievements. Winning something or landing a new job isn't as exciting if you can't share the good news with someone. If you just made it through your first month without a drink, tell someone and get excited about it.

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