Recovering from alcohol addiction is a lifelong process, and completing a rehabilitation program is just the beginning of it. After transitioning home, you or your loved one will likely encounter the drinking triggers once again. Although rehab programs typically equip recovering alcoholics with coping skills and a therapeutic background to resist the temptation of alcohol use, especially when life gets tough, the old habits can still crawl back into you.
To help recovering alcoholics stay sober, only needing to enter rehab once, HARP offers reliable aftercare support. The facility also combines SMART Recovery and SMART goals with other widely recognized and used approaches in its 5I Recovery Curriculum to help patients achieve lifelong alcohol recovery.
SMART Recovery Enhances Long-Term Recovery from Alcohol Problems
Self-Management and Recovery Training (SMART) Recovery is one of the support groups alcoholics can join during and after alcohol addiction treatment. Established in 1994, SMART Recovery is now helping individuals struggling with addiction from around the globe attain and maintain sobriety by giving them tools and community support.
However, unlike the program of the well-known Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), which is based on spiritual principles, SMART Recovery adopts a more scientific approach to alcohol treatment.
As mentioned, recovery from alcohol addiction is a lifelong process. It is a choice you must make every single day, even on the hard days when alcohol seems like the only thing that can provide you comfort. Choosing to be sober can be tough, especially when you’re going through something like the loss of a job or a loved one.
During these trying times, peer support like SMART Recovery can help overcome post-rehab challenges. Peer support is defined as the process of providing and receiving non-professional help from people with similar circumstances or conditions.
Research suggests that, when embedded in other treatment programs, peer support groups can amplify and extend treatment effects. In fact, 71% of SMART members undergoing treatment who participated in a survey reported a reduction in alcohol use since their previous SMART Recovery meeting.
Setting SMART Goals in Recovery
Aside from social support, setting goals is crucial to recovery success. It helps guide a recovering individual’s focus and motivates more positive behaviours as they begin to live a sober life. It acts as a roadmap to recovery.
Setting goals is easy; working to achieve them is a completely different story.
The good news is that following the SMART framework for goal setting can increase your chances of accomplishing your goals.
It is important to note that the “SMART” in SMART goals is not the same as in SMART Recovery. It stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-Bound. George T. Doran introduced the SMART goal in 1981. It has since gained widespread acceptance because of its ease of implementation, practicality, and effectiveness. It is now used to set goals for addiction recovery.
Let’s now delve further into these five criteria in goal setting:
Specific
You have to define clearly what you aim to achieve. For example, if you want to become happier, determine exactly what you plan on doing to achieve that. It can be spending an hour a day on hobbies you enjoy or travelling to new places with your family or loved ones at least once a month. Be as detailed as possible. You can include who will be involved, what you are trying to accomplish, where it will occur, and when it is due. It is best if your goal includes an answer to ‘w’ questions.
Measurable
Include a quantifiable metric in your goal, like durations, amounts, or frequency, so it’s easier to track the progress and know whether you have achieved your goals. For example, if you plan to attend support meetings, determine how often you would do that to make the goal measurable. A simpler example is drinking more water. Instead of simply stating you will drink more water, including how many glasses you want to consume daily.
Agreeable
Set a goal that resonates with your commitment to personal recovery, inner desires, and values. Otherwise, you may end up abandoning them. For example, you like being fit. You can make it your goal to work out at a gym several times a week. Aside from improving your physical health, it may also help relieve stress that could have triggered your drinking habits.
Realistic
If the goals are too hard, you will probably end up frustrated and give up. So ensure your recovery goals are challenging but not impossible to accomplish based on your current circumstances, resources, and commitments. For example, expecting a job in the next six months is doable, but setting a timeline within a week would be too hard and even impossible if you don’t have the skills, experience, and luck. If the goal is quite big, you can try breaking it down. For example, aim to learn how to write a resume instead of getting a job within a week.
Time-bound
A time-bound goal has a deadline or a time frame. Adding a time element to goals promotes accountability and creates urgency. So don’t forget to specify when you want to achieve the goal you set. It could be a daily goal, like practising mindfulness every day after breakfast, or a long-term goal, like finishing a recovery workbook within six months.
Many people choose to use SMART goals because they are consistently effective. This framework helps you more clearly plan out how to achieve a goal, better track your progress, and stay committed to the process.
Start Your Journey to Lifelong Alcohol Recovery
If you cannot quit alcohol despite your best efforts, consider getting into a rehabilitation program at HARP. HARP uses both SMART goals and SMART Recovery approaches, alongside other recognized modalities of addiction treatment, to help clients overcome their addiction.
The facility also provides lifelong aftercare that the client can count on. It means you won’t be alone on your journey to long-term recovery. You’ll always have access to tools and HARP professional guidance whenever needed.
HARP tailors aftercare plans to ensure they meet the client’s needs. Talk to our professionals to discuss how to build your professional alcohol recovery support team.
