Beginning The New Year In Recovery

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are probably some of the most challenging holidays to get through sober. I would know because my birthday is on New Year’s Eve, and just yesterday, I turned 21 (a.k.a. The legal drinking age). My birthday used to be the day I had the most time of my life. It was the best day to drink and drug and the best day to get my parents off my back about how chaotic I was because “it’s my birthday” or “everyone else is getting drunk today.”

It is interesting now because I remember when I was sixteen, seventeen, and eighteen. I used to count down the days until I turned twenty-one, and I was so excited to be able to legally buy alcohol finally. Plot twist: my drinking and drugging career ended at the age of nineteen. Social media is a big part of my generation, and I still see people’s posts for their twenty-first birthday. The captions are always “Cheers to 21” or something to that extent. And for me, I would probably put a caption of “Red Bull Cheers to 21.”

I was not sad about not being able to drink or buy marijuana from a dispensary on my twenty-first birthday. Today, I am grateful that I can still dance, party, and have fun without putting substances into my body. I have genuine friendships and relationships with my family. I feel so much joy, love, and serenity today, and I will never stop doing what I have been doing in my recovery journey because there is always more freedom and serenity to reach. So, going into this New Year, I will continue to live one day at a time and prioritize my sobriety and recovery throughout 2025.

Here are some ways to prioritize your recovery in the New Year:

Set goals
- Make realistic and specific goals that are achievable. Some of these goals could include attending more meetings, volunteering, getting a service position/getting more involved, or improving relationships.
Continue working on recovery
- Recovery is an ongoing process and it’s important to continue working on your program even after the first year.
Practice Self-Care
- Self-care is important for your overall health and quality of life.
Practice Gratitude
- Focus on the positive aspects of life and celebrate your progress. You can also start a gratitude journal!
Exercise
- Physical activity can help reduce stress
Educate yourself
- Learn about addiction and alcoholism, their effects, and strategies for maintaining sobriety
Give yourself compassion
- Celebrate your milestones and acknowledge your resilience
Attend a sober celebration
- Practice socializing in a group setting while sober.

There are many different ways you can prioritize your sobriety this New Year but when you have an idea that pops into your head, don’t be afraid to try it out! There are endless New Year’s Resolutions you can set for yourself but make sure that they are realistic!

What do you want to accomplish in recovery this New Year? 🌟🌟🌟