It’s hard to believe it’s that time of year again.

Time to make your New Year’s Resolutions – if you’re the type to do that.

The reason it’s hard to believe it’s that time of year again is because this year has been so unusual. For most of us, our sense of time changed when the coronavirus pandemic hit. It seems as if we’ve been on hold for the past year. On hold, or in a state of suspended animation. Or in some type of stasis – but we’re alive and conscious while the days go by, as if we’re spectators to our own lives.

Whatever your experience has been over the past year, you probably agree – along with just about everyone else on earth – that 2021 was a year like no other.

Did you make resolutions last December?

If so, do you even remember what they were?

Maybe you did, and kept them until the pandemic started, when they fell by the wayside as you adapted to the new set of circumstances we all encountered. Let’s take a look at two polls: one about the most popular New Year’s Resolutions for 2020, and one about the most popular resolutions for 2021, then talk about whether any of those resolutions might help you on your recovery journey. Once we do that, we’ll offer our take on New Year’s Resolutions, and offer suggestions we’re sure will help you as you navigate recovery in 2021.

The Most Popular Resolutions

According to a survey of 1,500 U.S. adults conducted in December 2020 – which now seems like then years ago – here are the top five resolutions people made for 2021:

1. Exercise and improve fitness (50%)
2. Lose weight (48%)
3. Save more money (44%)
4. Improve diet (39%)
5. Pursue a career ambition (21%)

While we’re at it, let’s look back the top five resolutions for 2020. This survey of around 2000 U.S. adults was conducted in late 2019:

1. Save money for the future (62%)
2. Have a more positive outlook on life (58%)
3. Budget better (54%)
4. Spend more time with family (53%)
5. Learn a new skill (50%)

What we find interesting is that before the pandemic, people were most interested in their finances and family time. During this interminable pandemic denouement, however, they’re more interested in exercising and losing weight. Saving money is still up towards the top, but spending time dropped out of the top five, landing at number six on the list.

We won’t interpret that one.

Now let’s think about how these resolutions might help someone in recovery. Those about money can help anyone at any time – because we all have to pay the bills – so we’ll simultaneously include and exclude those, if that makes sense. If it doesn’t, here’s an explanation. What we mean is that managing finances and saving money for the future is always a good idea and redounds to your benefit whether you’re in recovery or not. So yes – it will help your recovery in an indirect way – so it’s in. But it’s not directly related to recovery, so it’s out.

Now, on to the rest.

It won’t take long to talk about them, since they’re good ones. Exercising, losing weight, improving your diet, and pursuing a career ambition are all resolutions that can help you on your recovery journey. All of them are good for mind, body, and spirit – and we approve.

A Holistic, Integrated Approach to the New Year

In fact, most of those resolutions are things people who enter treatment for an alcohol or substance use disorder spend time working on or thinking about while they’re in treatment. They’re important elements of a healthy life overall, which is a primary focus of effective, evidence-based recovery. Contemporary treatment programs prioritize healing the whole person, rather than spending all the treatment time on the disorder or the symptoms of the disorder.

That’s how we want you to look at your New Year’s Resolutions this year. In a holistic, integrated way, the same way you look at recovery. And that’s why we suggest one resolution for this year.

Can you guess what that is?

It’s deceptively simple:

This year, resolve to stick to your recovery plan.

We advise this because it implies all the resolutions we mention above, in varying degrees. It’s hard to imagine a recovery plan, formulated in 2021, that doesn’t include eating healthy, being more active, and reimagining your career.

We should mention another thing here: while time with biological family might not help everyone in recovery, it’s important to spend time with other people. You may call them your friends, your chosen family, your crew, or something else. If you’re in recovery, they may be your recovery peers, i.e. people you met in treatment or people who attend the same community support meetings, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA).

How to Keep This Resolution

Before we offer advice on how to stick to this deceptively simple resolution, we need to address one more thing. If spending more time with family this year is not on your (supplemental) list, we want you to remember it’s important not to isolate while you’re in recovery. Make time to see people, talk to people, and be around people – even if that means Zoom calls. Any contact is better than no contact, and that includes the virtual contact we all became used to during 2020 and early 2021.

Now, about keeping that resolution.

Stick to Your Recovery Plan in 2023: Five Quick Tips

1. Be Realistic

Think of all the elements of your recovery plan, and make sure you set yourself up for success. If your recovery plan involves getting up every morning at 5am and working out, but you’ve never done that before, then adjust the plan to something more realistic, like afternoon walks three days a week. Which brings us to tip #2.

2. Break it Down

If you plan on improving what you eat this year, then understand you need to go step-by-step. Start by eating more vegetables with dinner. Add fresh fruits at lunch. Add whole grains rather than processed grains with all meals. For instance, eat brown rice or wheat bread instead of white rice or Wonderbread. Make the change gradually, and within six months, your diet will look totally different – and you’ll be amazed at how much progress you made.

3. Set Milestones

Your plan might include something like learning a new skill, losing weight, or attending more AA meetings. Setting milestones is related to breaking things down into manageable chunks. For instance, if part of your recovery plan is to learn a musical instrument, give yourself a month to learn a new song. That’s doable. When you meet your milestone, you’ll get the satisfaction of setting and achieving a goal. That goal forms the foundation for the next goal. Keep your mind on the next achievable goal, and you’re less likely to be overwhelmed by your big-picture goal.

4. Involve Other People

Some people thrive when they’re accountable to other people. If sticking to your recovery plan is your resolution, as we suggest, then we also suggest sharing this resolution with a recovery peer or your AA/NA sponsor. These accountability partners can help keep you on track by celebrating your accomplishments, on the one hand, or reminding you to buckle down, on the other hand.

5. Be Resilient

Relapse happens. Slips occur. You may stray, and, for various reasons, get off track or lose sight of the goal: sticking to your recovery plan. If that happens to you, then we advise being honest with yourself without beating yourself up about it. Think compassionate honesty. Be kind to yourself, but be real with yourself, too. What matters is not that you relapsed or slipped – what matters is how you respond.

These tips – if you follow them – will help you stick to your recovery plan during 2022. One thing we want you to notice is the emphasis on understanding yourself and being compassionate and empathetic toward yourself. You’re the one in recovery. Your self-talk matters. We want you to be practical in setting and achieving your goals, and we also want you to be kind to yourself. The world can be hard, sometimes. Therefore, when appropriate, we recommend you being the opposite: be supportive and kind.

Is Something Missing Here?

You may have noticed that we didn’t advise you to resolve to “not drink” or “quit drugs” or “stay sober” this year. While it’s true that we want all those things for you – and yes, we’d be dishonest if we said those are not the point of a recovery plan – we also know as well as you do that simply saying those words or making that promise to yourself does not always work. That’s a painful truth that most people in recovery face, because most people in recovery experience a slip or a relapse at some point in their recovery journey.

A good plan accounts for slips. A good plan includes the possibility of relapse.

Your plan is your roadmap to sustainable sobriety, long-term health, and overall wellbeing. Yes, sobriety is the goal. But a plan is how you get there. A plan increases your chances of achieving sustained sobriety, despite the curveballs life may throw at you. That’s why, for 2022, we encourage you to make one commitment to yourself. Make it in the form of a New Year’s Resolution. Do this, and we bet everything else will fall into place:

Stick to your recovery plan.

Recovery affects more than the individual overcoming addiction. Family members often experience their own recovery journey as they adjust to changes in communication, responsibilities, trust, and daily life. Even after treatment begins, families may need time, support, and new skills to heal from the impact addiction has had on relationships.

Family recovery involves learning how to support a loved one’s sobriety while also caring for your own well-being. Through healthy communication, realistic expectations, family support, and ongoing recovery resources, families can work toward rebuilding trust and creating a stronger foundation for long-term recovery.

This guide explores the role families play in recovery, the challenges that may arise after treatment, and strategies that can help families heal and move forward together.

How Addiction Changes Family Dynamics 

Addiction affects more than the person struggling with alcohol or drug use. As substance use progresses, family roles, routines, and relationships often change as loved ones adapt to the challenges addiction creates. Spouses, parents, children, siblings, and close friends may all experience increased stress, uncertainty, and emotional strain.

Over time, family members may take on additional responsibilities, adjust their behavior to avoid conflict, or focus much of their attention on the person struggling with addiction. Trust can become damaged by broken promises, dishonesty, financial difficulties, or unpredictable behavior. Communication may also become more difficult as fear, frustration, resentment, and uncertainty begin to affect family relationships.

Children are often impacted as well. Living with a parent who struggles with substance use can create instability, confusion, and emotional distress. Family members may feel responsible for protecting others, managing crises, or hiding the effects of addiction from friends, relatives, or the community.

These changes can continue to affect family relationships long after substance use has stopped. While addiction may impact the entire family, understanding how it changes family dynamics is often the first step toward healing and recovery for everyone involved.

What Family Recovery Means 

Recovery is often viewed as the process of overcoming addiction, but families are affected by addiction, too. As a result, many family members begin their own recovery journey as they learn to heal from the emotional, financial, and relationship challenges that developed during active substance use.

Family recovery involves more than supporting a loved one’s sobriety. It often includes rebuilding trust, improving communication, establishing healthier patterns of interaction, and learning how to navigate recovery-related challenges together. Family members may also need to address feelings of anger, resentment, fear, guilt, or grief that developed while addiction was affecting the household.

Recovery can create positive changes, but it does not immediately resolve every family challenge. Rebuilding relationships often takes time, and family members may need to adjust expectations as everyone adapts to new routines, responsibilities, and ways of communicating. Patience, consistency, and ongoing support are important for both the individual in recovery and the people who care about them.

While every family’s experience is different, recovery often creates an opportunity for healing and growth. With education, support, and a shared commitment to positive change, families can work toward stronger relationships and a healthier future together.

Living With Someone in Recovery 

Recovery does not end when treatment is completed. Returning home often involves adjusting to new routines, responsibilities, and expectations as both the individual and their family adapt to life in recovery. While this transition can bring hope and positive change, it may also present challenges as everyone learns how to navigate recovery together.

Many people in recovery continue participating in ongoing support services such as therapy, recovery support groups, alumni programs, or aftercare services. Family members can play an important role by encouraging continued participation in these resources and supporting the healthy habits and lifestyle changes that help individuals stay sober after rehab.

It is also important to maintain realistic expectations. Recovery is a long-term process, and progress often occurs gradually over time. Individuals may experience setbacks, challenges, or periods of adjustment as they develop new coping skills and build healthier habits. Patience, consistency, and open communication can help families navigate these challenges more effectively.

Family members should also understand relapse signs, symptoms, and prevention techniques. This knowledge can help families support recovery and encourage a loved one to seek help when challenges occur. 

Supporting someone in recovery does not mean taking responsibility for their sobriety. Instead, it involves offering encouragement, maintaining healthy boundaries, and creating an environment that supports long-term recovery while allowing the individual to remain accountable for their own choices and actions. 

Rebuilding Trust After Addiction 

Trust is often one of the most difficult things to rebuild after addiction. Substance use can damage relationships through dishonesty, broken promises, financial problems, inconsistent behavior, and unmet responsibilities. Even when a loved one is committed to recovery, family members may continue to feel hurt, cautious, or uncertain about the future.

Rebuilding trust takes time and usually happens through consistent actions rather than words alone. As individuals in recovery demonstrate honesty, accountability, and reliability, family members may gradually become more comfortable and confident in the relationship. 

Family members may also need time to process their experiences and address unresolved emotions related to active addiction. Open communication, realistic expectations, and patience can help families navigate this process while creating opportunities for healthier relationships. 

Recovery creates an opportunity to strengthen relationships and establish new patterns of trust. While every family’s experience is different, many families are able to develop stronger connections through continued commitment, honest communication, and shared recovery goals. 

Supporting Recovery in Healthy Ways 

Family members can play an important role in supporting long-term recovery. While recovery is ultimately the responsibility of the individual, encouragement, understanding, and a stable support system can help reinforce the positive changes being made during treatment and recovery.

One of the most effective ways to support recovery is by encouraging healthy routines and ongoing participation in recovery-related activities. This may include attending therapy appointments, participating in support groups, maintaining healthy habits, and staying connected to recovery communities. Families can also help by recognizing progress and encouraging continued commitment to recovery goals.

Healthy support also includes respecting boundaries and allowing loved ones to take responsibility for their recovery. Although it may be tempting to solve problems or prevent every setback, individuals often build confidence and resilience by applying the coping skills they have learned in treatment and recovery programs.

Families should also recognize that recovery involves growth for everyone involved. Open communication, realistic expectations, and mutual respect can help create a supportive environment where both the individual in recovery and their loved ones can continue moving forward.

Supporting recovery does not require having all the answers. Consistent encouragement, patience, and a willingness to grow together can make a meaningful difference throughout the recovery journey.

Why Self-Care Matters for Family Members

Supporting a loved one through addiction and recovery can be emotionally demanding. Family members often balance caregiving responsibilities, relationship challenges, and concerns about their loved one’s well-being while also managing their own daily lives. Over time, this stress can affect emotional well-being, physical health, relationships, and overall quality of life.

Prioritizing self-care is not selfish. Taking care of your own needs can help you maintain the energy, perspective, and resilience needed to support a loved one while also protecting your own well-being. Self-care may include maintaining healthy routines, spending time with supportive friends and family, participating in hobbies, exercising, getting adequate rest, or seeking professional support when needed.

Many family members benefit from connecting with others who understand what they are experiencing. Support groups, counseling, and family-focused recovery resources can provide education, encouragement, and a safe place to discuss challenges with people who have faced similar situations.

It is also important to recognize that you cannot control another person’s recovery. Family members often experience frustration, fear, disappointment, or uncertainty during the recovery process. Focusing on what you can control, including your own actions, boundaries, and well-being, can help reduce stress and support healthier relationships.

When family members prioritize their own well-being, they are often better equipped to support their loved ones and navigate the recovery process. Self-care is not separate from family recovery. It is an essential part of long-term healing for the entire family. 

Family Therapy and Ongoing Recovery Support 

Recovery is often strongest when families have access to ongoing support. While individual treatment focuses on helping a person recover from addiction, family-focused services help loved ones address the impact addiction has had on relationships, communication, and daily life. 

Family therapy provides a structured environment where family members can work through difficult conversations, rebuild trust, improve communication, and develop healthier ways of supporting one another. It can also help families better understand addiction, recovery, and the changes that may occur as a loved one progresses through treatment and long-term sobriety.

In addition to therapy, many families benefit from support groups, educational programs, recovery communities, and other resources that provide ongoing guidance throughout the recovery process. These services can provide encouragement, practical guidance, and opportunities to connect with others who have experienced similar challenges.

Family recovery does not happen overnight. Like recovery itself, healing often occurs gradually through consistent effort, support, and a willingness to grow together. With time and the right resources, families can strengthen relationships, improve communication, and create a healthier foundation for the future.

In today’s world, there is a self-help book for everything and luckily, there are many helpful books on recovery from substance use disorders. These books give advice, information, and motivation to improve a specific aspect of one’s life. Addiction recovery is no different. Countless books have been written about how to overcome addiction and how to get one’s life back on track. Below are some of the most popular books available today on the topic of addiction, and a brief description of their content. We chose these books from the many recommended by our Alumni – one is even written by one of our alums.

We do not receive any compensation if you choose to follow the link and buy the book. It is only for your convenience.

1. Being Sober: A Step-By-Step Guide To, Getting Through, and Living In Recovery

By Harry Haroutounian, 2013
256 Pages

Dr. Harry is the former physician director of The Betty Ford Clinic this classic recovery book reveals a step by step plan to stay sober. With a focus on reclaiming the power that comes from a life free of dependency, Being Sober walks readers through the many phases of addiction and recovery without judgment or the overly “cultish” language of traditional 12-step plans.

2. A Very Fine House: A Mother’s Story Of Love, Faith, and Crystal Meth

By Barbara Cofer Stoefen, 2014
259 Pages

Elizabeth Vargas bravely chronicles her journey from addiction to recovery. In this book, she chronicles her life from an anxiety cursed childhood, a difficult coming of age and the guilt, struggles and denial of a working mom suffering from alcoholism.

3. Between Breaths: A Memoir Of Panic & Addiction

By Elizabeth Vargas, 2016
257 Pages

A Very Fine House is an intimate memoir of a mother’s Norman Rockwell family turned upside down by her daughter’s descent into meth addiction and crime. Bright and beautiful, Annie is an unlikely candidate for meth. Living fast and hard on the streets of Bend, Oregon, she commits crimes against herself, the community, and her own family.

4. Letting Go Of The Thief: A Ninety Day Journey Inside The Thoughts Of An Alcoholic

By Pamela D. Pesta, 2018
194 Pages

If You’re Dealing with Alcoholism, this Book is for You. Letting go of the Thief is a ninety-day voyage into alcoholic thinking. Welcome to the chaotic thrashing of a mind, pulsating with intoxication. Spend a few moments in the whirlwind of shame, guilt, and utter desperation. The thief will shrewdly expose the terror of that human soul drenched in remorse and fear. You will never fully understand this harrowing disease until you jump into that circus.

5. Codependent No More: How To Stop Controlling Others & Start Caring For Yourself

By Melodie Beattie, 2009
278 Pages

One of the top recovery books according to Amazon sales is Codependent No More by Melody Beattie. This book, first published in 1986, covers addiction from the codependent’s perspective, which also carries over to other areas of life. Filled with case studies and real-life examples, many find this book to be very relatable to their situation and it offers advice for taking control of one’s own life.

6. The Language Of Letting Go: Daily Meditations For Codependents

By Melodie Beattie, 2009
402 Pages

Another book by the same author, The Language of Letting Go, has been a staple in the recovery world since its publication in 1990. In this book, the author incorporates her own life experiences and recovery reflections in a daily meditation book. This collection also deals with codependency and how we struggle with it.

7. Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors & The Drug Company That Addicted America

By Beth Macy, 2018
385 Pages

Dopesick by Beth Macy is another big seller in America today. A brand new book, Dopesick covers the opioid crisis from its very beginning to current times.

“In this masterful work, Beth Macy takes us into the epicenter of America’s twenty-plus year struggle with opioid addiction. From distressed small communities in Central Appalachia to wealthy suburbs; from disparate cities to once-idyllic farm towns; it’s a heartbreaking trajectory that illustrates how this national crisis has persisted for so long and become so firmly entrenched.”

8. Recovery: Freedom From Our Addiction

By Russell Brand, 2018
360 Pages

Another self-help style book is Freedom from Our Addictions by Russell Brand. This well-known comedian, writer, and actor gives his personal testimony of addiction and recovery, giving real world advice to those entrenched in the same journey.

9. Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction

By David Sheff, 2009
352 Pages

Beautiful Boy by David Sheff is a heart-wrenching memoir about his son’s addiction to meth and the impact it had on the entire family. This author does not merely talk of the struggles, but of the hope that can be found in recovery.

10. Clean: Overcoming Addiction & Ending America’s Greatest Tragedy

By David Sheff, 2014
400 Pages

Also by David Sheff, Clean promotes the idea that addiction is a disease and not a moral failing. This book is a guide for those struggling with addiction but also works to create awareness for the overall goal of combating addiction in America and incorporating treatment that is effective.

11. Save Me From Myself: How I Found God, Quit Korn, Kicked Drugs & Lived To Tell My Story

By Brian Head, 2008
240 Pages

Brian “Head” Welch’s book Save Me from Myself is an honest recounting of this out-of-control musician’s struggle through addiction and recovery. Welch credits his faith in God for saving him from his destructive lifestyle.

12. Drop The Rock: Removing Character Defects, Steps Six & Seven

By Multiple Authors, 2005
132 Pages

In this self-help book, Drop the Rock is a guide to adjusting character defects that keep many from recovering. Written by authors Bill P., Todd W., and Sara S., this 2005 book speaks in detail of applying the 12-steps to our lives of recovery.

13. Breathing Under Water: Spirituality & The Twelve Steps

By Richard Rohr, 2011
176 Pages

Richard Rohr connects the idea of surrender to God with healing from addiction in Breathing Under Water. Based on the 12-steps, this book addresses the brokenness people feel in all different areas of life.

14. Rewired: A Bold New Approach To Addiction & Recovery

By Erica Spiegelman, 2015
144 Pages

Written by Erica Spiegelman, Rewired is described as a breakthrough approach to fighting addiction. Incorporating the concept of self-actualization, this book encourages the reader to look within themselves for the power for healing.

15. Impaired: A Nurse’s Story Of Addiction & Recovery

By Patricia Holloran, 2009

This book was written by a nurse named Patricia Holloran who found herself in the midst of the prescription opioid crisis. Caught for stealing narcotics from the hospital where she worked to feed her addiction, this author wrote this book to provide inspiration to all those who have unintentionally earned for themselves the label “addict.”

16. Integral Recovery: A Revolutionary Approach To The Treatment Of Alcoholism & Addiction

By John Dupuy, 2013
312 Pages

Written by John Dupuy, Integral Recovery works to modernize drug and alcohol treatment using the latest research, techniques, and information. Promoting a holistic recovery, this author provides an informative and researched-based book about why treatment works.

17. Alcohol Lied To Me: The Intelligent Way To Escape Alcohol Addiction

By Craig Beck, 2012
216 Pages

Craig Beck writes about his own journey to sobriety in Alcohol Lied to Me. This successful businessman spent 20 years being controlled by his problem drinking, even after trying countless methods to stop. Beck finally discovered his own successful method and promotes it in this book.

18. In The Realm Of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters With Addiction

By Gabor Mate, 2010
520 Pages

In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts was written by Gabor Mate and is based on his experience working as a physician of addicted individuals. This author described addiction as a complex interplay between a person’s history, development, chemistry, and the drugs the person uses.

19. The Gifts Of Imperfection: Let Go OF Who You Think You’re Supposed To Be & Embrace Who You Are

By Brené Brown, 2010
160 Pages

The Gifts of Imperfection, written by Brené Brown, is a motivational guide to finding one’s true self in order to achieve true beauty. By cultivating feelings of self-worth, this author promotes whole-person wellness and personal growth.

20. Recovery From Trauma, Addiction Or Both: Strategies For Finding Your Best Self

By Lisa Najavits, 2017
277 Pages

In Recovery from Trauma, Addiction, or Both, author Lisa Najavits focuses on the impact of past trauma on a person’s current addiction. This inspirational book gives real-life examples of how to build coping methods skills and set realistic goals for a healthy life.

Get the help you need, now.

If you are struggling with substance use disorder and want to get help, we are here for you. Books written by caroline knapp and other renown authors can help your wellness, but many times rehab is necessary to get your quality of life back. If you or a loved one is struggling staying sober, don’t hesitate to call.

The Ridge offers detox programs and an inpatient rehab center in Cincinnati to aid recovery.