Today, we will be discussing strategies for staying motivated and maintaining commitment to recovery.

Staying motivated in recovery can be challenging, particularly in the face of setbacks and challenges. However, there are strategies that can help us stay committed to our recovery journey.

At one of our recovery groups someone described their recovery like being in a boat heading toward a waterfall. The nearer they got to the waterfall the more motivated they were to row in the opposite direction. When they were away from danger their motivation waned and they stopped rowing which meant they drifted back toward to waterfall once more and motivation to row picked up again.

Rather than take this sort of crisis management approach to Recovery we hope you’ll find the tips below helpful for staying motivated.

Here are some tips for staying motivated in addiction recovery:

1. Set achievable goals:
Setting achievable goals can help you maintain a sense of progress and accomplishment in your recovery journey. This can include both short-term and long-term goals, such as attending a certain number of meetings, completing a treatment program, or securing employment.

2. Build a support network:
Building a strong support network can provide you with the encouragement and accountability you need to stay committed to your recovery journey. This can include friends and family members, as well as peers in recovery and professional support.

3. Celebrate successes:
Celebrating successes, no matter how small, can help you stay motivated and committed to your recovery journey. This can include acknowledging progress, recognizing achievements, and rewarding yourself for milestones.

4. Practice self-care:
Self-care is an essential part of maintaining motivation and commitment to recovery. This can include practices such as exercise, mindfulness, and healthy eating.

5. Stay connected to a higher purpose:
Staying connected to a higher purpose can provide you with a sense of meaning and purpose in your recovery journey. This can include spiritual or religious beliefs, a sense of purpose in helping others, or a commitment to a particular cause.

Also, here are some signs and symptoms that motivation is getting low and using the rowing analogy above may indicate that you have stopped rowing are drifting back to the waterfalls edge.

Loss of interest or enthusiasm, withdrawal or isolation, neglecting recovery activities (you stop attending support group meetings, neglect to follow through on therapy appointments, or stop practicing self-care activities), you start to romanticise past drug or alcohol use, irritability or mood swings.

It’s important to recognize these warning signs and take action to address them before they lead to a relapse. This may involve reaching out for additional support, recommitting to recovery goals, or adjusting treatment plans as needed.

You are worth the effort, your life has meaning, your dreams count, and your voice matters.