Goals You Should Have For Long-Term Recovery
Having a goal to work towards gives us something to focus on and gives our life a sense of purpose. It can be anything from taking a class or learning a new skill, to spending more time with friends and family. When we achieve these goals, it boosts our confidence and helps keep us motivated to stay on track with recovery.
At times, it may seem daunting to set long-term goals. It’s natural to feel overwhelmed, but it’s important to break them down into smaller, achievable goals. This can make them more manageable and help us stay focused on our progress.
Remember to set realistic expectations for yourself and be kind to yourself when you don’t reach the goal right away. Here are four long-term goals you could work towards.
Financial Goals
If you owe money to friends, colleagues, and family members, your primary financial goal should be to get out of debt. Try changing your financial habits before your debt piles up and you fall into a debt trap. Stop borrowing money, start tracking your expenses, and set up a budget. If you have fallen behind on monthly credit card payments, negotiate credit card debt. If required, reach out to a debt counseling agency for help. Build the habit of saving so you have enough money to cover future expenses and deal with financial stress.
Health Goals
Addiction affects one’s physical as well as mental health. When you are addicted to a substance, commitments such as exercising and healthy eating go out of the window. Set physical and mental health goals once you have completed an addiction recovery program in Sonoma County. Typical examples of physical health goals include exercising regularly, improving sleep quality by building good lifestyle habits, and making your diet healthier by prioritizing foods that a highly nutritious.
Common mental health goals to set in addiction recovery include making more time for the things you love. This could be starting a hobby or spending time with the people who matter in your life. Another goal to improve mental health could be to develop a daily quiet time routine, this could be for journaling, meditating, or visualization time. When working on your mental health, reaching out to a professional therapist could also support your needs.
Career Goals
Now that you are in recovery, a long-term goal could be to focus your attention on your career. If you aren’t currently employed, apply for jobs. If you have a job but have fallen down the career ladder, rebuild your reputation by becoming a more responsible and reliable individual. In addition to this, consider enrolling in a course that helps you become future-ready. There are a variety of courses you can now take online to bolster your resume. With newly gained in-demand skills, you can dive into your career.
Service Goals
Kindness matters. When we help others, our brain releases feel-good hormones such as endorphins that promote happiness, helping improve our mental well-being. Give back to society by volunteering for local NGOs, animal shelters, and old age homes. Consider donating things you no longer use. Volunteering has been shown to decrease stress levels and improve quality of life.
Life-Rock is a non-profit organization committed to helping recovering addicts rebuild their lives. Our addiction recovery program in Sonoma County is designed to help recovering addicts connect with their inner selves to better understand their behaviors and thought patterns. To schedule a visit to one of our sober homes, call 707-575-9100 (men’s helpline) or 707-575-9599 (women’s helpline).