If you’ve been charged with a DUI in Missouri, chances are that you’ve had at least a little experience with an alcohol rehabilitation program like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) as either part of your required sentence or as a recommendation from your probation officer and/or DUI attorney.
No matter what your experience is with “sobering up” if you’ve had a run-in with the law due to alcohol, 2021 may be the year that you start to reevaluate your relationship with it.
Driving while intoxicated is illegal and dangerous and the number one guaranteed way to avoid getting a DWI or DUI in Missouri is to not drink at all.
So whether you are resolving to sober up for the entire year, try it out for a few months, or just needed to work on it one day at a time, here are some tips to help you stick to your sober resolutions for 2021 and avoid future DWIs in Missouri.
Making the decision to get sober is a noble goal as well as a daunting challenge. Many people stop before they even start because the idea of becoming sober is overwhelming. The good thing to know is that you are not alone, there are many programs and people that are designed to help you with your decision, no matter your financial situation. Furthermore, one of the most important things you can do on your sober journey is to have patience for yourself and to take it one day at a time. So let’s begin.
Set SMART Goals
According to this article by behavioral health experts, only about 8% of Americans successfully accomplish their resolutions.
To avoid falling into that statistic, experts suggest creating SMART goals to realize your resolutions. SMART goals stand for goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. SMART goals can be created for every aspect of your life, but when it comes to sobering up, some SMART goals according to Vertava Health may look like this:
- Exercising. Part of recovery and leading a sober life is about improving your health. By committing to exercising for X amount of minutes, X amount of days per week, you will be improving your mental and physical health.
- New Habits. One of the most difficult things about avoiding alcohol is that for many people it was a sort of hobby or something that they did with other people or while doing activities. Because of this, it’s critical that you find a new hobby and make a goal to practice it so many times a week or even try something new every month. Whatever it is, make sure it fits into the SMART criteria.
- Journaling. Journaling is a great way to get in touch with your emotions and can be highly therapeutic. Make a goal to stick to a regular journaling practice with times that make the most sense for your schedule.
Ask For Help
There are a myriad of reasons why many people “fail” to stick to a sober resolution. However, by setting SMART goals and with help from friends and family, virtual groups, counselors, etc., it’s a little easier to start leading a sober life.
Here are some tips from Be Sober to help get you started on the right foot this year:
- Start with support immediately. The first 30 days of your journey are going to be the toughest of your journey, so reach out to support before you begin. Join a private sober Facebook group, your local AA chapter, and sign up for apps that are designed to support you along the way like this one.
- Have a positive friend/family circle. There are some people in your life that will make it difficult for you to give up alcohol for one reason or another. While you’re trying to get sober it’s best to avoid people and situations that have a negative impact on your mindset and your new sober lifestyle. Assess the positive people in your life and find ways to spend more time with them.
Lastly, one of the most vital aspects of getting sober is having patience with yourself. Work on removing the negative self-talk and thoughts from your mind and know that if you do slip up on your journey, that it’s OK. Every day is a new chance to make better decisions for your life. If you need more help with alcohol or drug addiction don’t hesitate to contact our DUI office in Springfield, MO. We can direct you to trusted counselors and recovery centers that will help you every step of the way.