Recovery is an entirely new lifestyle. No matter how well equipped we are, we have to create new healthy habits in sobriety so we don’t fall back into old toxic patterns. But the stresses of recovery or unresolved trauma often keep us stuck. So today I’m going to share with you easy, simple, and practical tips to get your new habits to stick.
If you’re unsure what new habits you would like to pick up, you can read this post about the science behind how these habits will transform your sobriety journey. Otherwise, grab a cup of coffee or tea, get comfy, and read on.
Don’t forget to download your FREE habit tracker.
START WITH VISUALIZATION
There’s neuroscience behind creating a sober board. Our brain does not know the difference between what’s real and what’s not.
Imagination IS reality.
When we repeatedly look at what we want, we create a neural network, the reticular activating system (RAS). The more we focus on visualization, the stronger those neural responses become, which makes the brain find ways to make our dreams a reality.
There’s more. We also have perceptual filtering. Our subconscious mind is processing about 11 million bits of information per second while our conscious mind only processes about 40-50 bits of information per second. The reason there’s such a drastic difference is because our brain is filtering out everything that isn’t important to us.
When we visualize, we’re telling our brain our goals are a priority, which motivates us to take inspired action.
When you want to pick up a healthy habit in sobriety, start with a sober board (INSERT SOBER BOARD) and look at it as often as you can. I come back to my sober board everyday and even created a video that I watch on the days I’m not feeling motivated. It helps so much and brings me back to why I made those commitments. Your why will carry you through the days you don’t want to be bothered with anything.
BEGIN AS A CHALLENGE (30 DAYS)
When you start something as a challenge, it takes the pressure away. You don’t have to worry about doing it the right way, not doing enough, or even the mental toll of having to force yourself into it. You can check this 30 day energy cleanse challenge out as a foundation.
Don’t forget to download your FREE habit tracker.
START SIMPLE
We all have at some point wanted an entirely new lifestyle but that doesn’t happen overnight because we need to take gradual steps to get there.
Sometimes we pick up something, realize it isn’t for us, and then walk away. Committing to healthy habits in recovery is no different. Start with one or two new habits and work your way up.
HAVE GRATITUDE
It may not seem that having gratitude can help your habits stick, but it works wonders. Have you ever thanked yourself for showing up for yourself or do you begrudgingly force yourself into a new healthy habit because that’s what you should do?
Each day as you begin your new healthy habit, thank yourself for showing up for you. And as you end each day, thank yourself for committing to your new habits.
Gratitude, especially for ourselves, teaches us self-compassion while also becoming a new healthy habit. You’re training your brain to think differently and when that happens, you show up each day going into your habits with less resentment.
Random positive reinforcement
We know our brains release dopamine every time we’re rewarded. But our brains also thrive on novelty. So if your brain gets accustomed to being rewarded at a set time or on the same day each week, it’s not going to be motivated to keep the healthy habit.
The brain gets bored. That rush of dopamine wears off and it seeks something different and exciting. Switch up when you reward yourself for your habits or how you’re going to reward yourself. Keep that dopamine in your brain flowing so it motivates you to commit to your habits.
What new healthy habits are you picking up in sobriety and how do you keep yourself motivated? Leave a comment below.
Please be sure to share this with anyone that may enjoy this read. I’ll see you soon…in the meantime, love yourself so much that even a Hallmark Christmas movie would be jealous.
