Five Healthy Ways to Stay Accountable to Your Addition Recovery in a Pandemic

Five Healthy Ways to Stay Accountable to Your Addition Recovery

To say getting sober in the best of times is a difficult endeavor is an understatement. My experience was that my first year of recovery was the most difficult time in my life. I was lonely, confused about who I really was, and generally uncomfortable in my own skin.  I felt all this even though I had unfettered access to in person sober connection in the form of 12 step programs and outpatient treatment.

To all those that are getting sober today amid a pandemic kudos to you. It is so very possible, and so worth it, but there is no doubt that you will need to work a little harder.

Below I have laid out five suggestions that will always help your recovery but are extra important during these trying times:

1. Really work a 12 step or peer support program

Just showing up to meetings and going through the motions is never enough, but at an in-person meeting someone will likely approach you and help you get engaged.  Unfortunately, one of the down sides of Zoom meetings is that it is extremely easy to go unnoticed. It is more important now than ever that you:· 

• Find a “home group”, a meeting that you go to every week consistently, and attend their business meeting.·

• Introduce yourself at every meeting.·

• Attempt to share at every meeting.·

• Put your phone number in the chat and ask people to call you.·

• Call people that put their phone number in the chat.·

• Find a sponsor that can talk to you at least once a day and meet to work the steps at least once a week. 

2. Set measurable and attainable goals

For me, nothing feels better than knowing I am making progress. With the day to day monotony of pandemic life, this can be hard to see or feel unless you put extra attention towards it.I find that setting goals at the beginning of the week, reflecting on your progress mid-week and at the end of the week is most effective at keeping my eye on the prize.

Here is an example of what your measurable and attainable goals might look like:· 

• Attend and introduce myself at the following three meetings: Monday Men’s, Young and Wise, and Ninjas in Recovery.

• Exercise at least three times this week for at least a half an hour for each session.·

• Find a Sponsor.

At the end of the week, ask yourself, what did I accomplish? How do I feel compared to last week? What will serve me most in the coming week?  

3. Communicate openly and frequently

The pandemic can be isolating. It takes much more effort than usual to communicate with others and let people know how we are feeling. There is a saying that our secrets keep us sick. Communicating frequently with other sober supports about how we are feeling, and what we are doing to maintain our sobriety is the cornerstone of remaining accountable.  

You will find time and time again that by communicating openly, not only will you feel better yourself, but you will help others as well.

4. Be of service to others

Helping other people, especially those battling addiction, always makes me feel better. I am most uncomfortable when I am thinking about myself, and my problems. The easiest way to get out of that is to get someone else on my mind! You will find by doing this, not only do you help other people, but you are helping yourself by reinforcing your sobriety and building a network. Even if you only have two days, you can help someone with one day. 

5. Practice meditation and gratitude

2020 is overwhelming for so many different reasons. It is so easy to end up in an “autopilot tizzy” when I feel overwhelmed. Meditation, even for just a few minutes, helps me put my experience in perspective which in turn allows me to be more grateful, serene, and effective.  

If you follow these five suggestions, I can almost guarantee you that you will feel stronger in your recovery. If you would like support in implementing a plan like this, well that is why I founded Accountable! Click on the button below to schedule a chat if you’d like to learn more, or sign up at https://youareaccountable.com/getstarted.