Anyone who has walked the road to recovery can probably all agree on one thing — it isn’t an easy journey. Anytime you decide to make a big life change, you face many challenges and road blocks, and it’s no different when turning from a lifestyle of substance use. However, choosing sobriety requires much more than just determination (although that’s a huge part).

Ways to celebrate sobriety

Choosing and maintaining sobriety requires many steps, from going through detox to treatment to continued therapy sessions. It’s not just a lifestyle change, it’s a change the brain and the body must endure as they reset back to healthy, natural ways of functioning.

If it sounds exhausting, it is, but far from impossible. And overcoming such a challenge deserves recognition. It doesn’t matter if you celebrate your recovery on the anniversary of your sobriety birthday, on the day you completed treatment or on each month you maintain sobriety so long as you make sure to honor it in some way.

1. Spend quality time with friends and family

One of the easiest ways to celebrate is to gather together the people who mean the most to you or have supported you in your recovery. You can plan something as simple as a movie night or a backyard barbecue, or go all out and host a fun, themed party.

No matter what kind of event you choose to host, getting together with the important people in your life is an easy way to both celebrate your recovery and send a message of thanks to those who supported you the most during your recovery.

2. Give back to others

Perhaps you’re not into throwing parties, or you simply want to celebrate your recovery doing something for others. A simple way you can give back to your community is by volunteering in your area.

Visiting your local food bank, helping out at a fundraiser for a local organization or participating in a community clean-up event are positive and worthwhile ways to spend your time. Plus, volunteering provides you the opportunity to feel rewarded at the same time as serving those who need it most.

3. Participate in recovery events

You may want to celebrate your recovery by sharing the moment with people who can relate to your experience. Some local recovery organizations hold monthly or annual sobriety celebrations for community members. They may also have regular events, such as meetings or opportunities to hear from guest speakers. Attending one of these events or becoming a member of such an organization can not only serve as a celebration, but help you maintain your sobriety as well by building your network of supporters.

Also, if you participate(d) in a recovery support group during or after treatment, you might want to celebrate with them. As they were a personal part of your recovery journey, welcoming them in the celebration of your recovery not only shows your gratitude, your success may inspire them as they continue along in their own journeys.

4. Create a tradition

Creating a tradition takes off the pressure of planning a celebration year after year and gives you some extra motivation to achieve your next milestone. Your tradition can involve family and friends, or it can be something you participate in by yourself; it can be as simple or elaborate as you like.

Choose something that’s meaningful to you, whether that’s going for a solo hike in the woods, planning a retreat with a few friends in a beach house by the sea or organizing a huge event that welcomes all your loved ones.

5. Treat yourself

This is probably the easiest and simplest way to celebrate your recovery. Chose something that brings you joy or you’ve been wanting to do for some time. Maybe that’s exploring a new city, taking a class to enhance a new or old hobby or grabbing takeout at your favorite restaurant.

Now is the perfect time to enrich yourself and continue to find fulfillment. Reward yourself— you’ve earned it!

Continued support in recovery

Celebrating recovery milestones is a special way of maintaining and honoring your recovery. It serves as a beautiful reminder to you of how far you’ve come and gives you something to look forward to with each anniversary.

As you continue to pursue and maintain recovery, remember that you have support available to you no matter how or when you need it. Contact Pyramid Healthcare anytime by calling 888-694-9996.