8 Tips to Help You Stay Sober

In 2020 I celebrated my eight years of sobriety! On August 18th, 2020, I had a little party for myself, covid safe, of course.  I love this day and think that you should celebrate your sobriety, but it's that much sweeter on your sober birthday.

Every year I am humbled on this day. 

To see where my life was to where my life is now is a complete 180.  

 The one change I made to my life compounded into the life I have always wanted.

 As each year passes, I continue to learn and grow as a person.  I love it.

Even in the year 2020, when the world was so heavy, I remained SOBER. 

I even hit another huge milestone of making it 3,000 Days Sober.

 So to celebrate sobriety and in the hopes of spreading it further, I wanted to share my top eight tips with you that have helped me in my recovery journey this far.

This journey is not comfortable, but one that is so worth it. 

Here are 8 tips to stay sober for my 8th sobriety birthday!

1.  Accountability - You need to start with getting accountable with yourself, an animal, your spouse, or a friend. Personal accountability plays a big role in your sobriety. However, I was the type of person who would tell myself I would do something, but I never did it. The point being, checking in with yourself will only get you so far. It would be best if you found an accountability partner SOMEWHERE. Even if you tell someone that you’re starting your recovery journey, it’ll help to hold you accountable as time goes on.
2. Supportive Circle - Make sure your circle is full of only supportive friends. Do they need to be sober? Not necessarily, but they do need to support you on your road to recovery. If they’re not supportive of you getting clean and sober, then bottom line, they’re not your friends, and it’s time to move on.
3. Gratitude - The practice of gratitude is basically just giving thanks every day and actually being grateful for sobriety. I know being sober is on the top of my gratitude list every single day.
4. Exercise - You have GOT to move your body! Sweating it out, get that anger and resentment OUT in a healthy way! We know the science behind exercising and getting the endorphins flowing, and the serotonin pumping = happy chemicals. It definitely helps me keep my mind right. 
5. Meditation - For the last 5 years, I’ve been meditating. Within the last year, I’ve started doing daily meditation to help with my anxiety and handle my reactive behavior. Reflecting inward on yourself will help you deal with feelings and help keep you calm.
6. Personal development - I can’t say enough good things about this one! With my own recovery journey, I had to address healthier habits with finances, learning to be a happier person, stuff in my business. So you don’t have to focus on other people’s memoirs of addiction. You can break the monotony and explore any areas that you want to grow within yourself. 
7. Repeat the story of what would happen if you were to drink - I do this every weekend as a part of my Sunday ritual where I’ll replay and relive some of the darkest times of my addiction to remind myself what it feels like. This helps keep my ass grounded thinking what if I decided to drink again. The only thing you’re missing out on is feeling like an asshole the next morning if you decide to go out and drink and start all the way over on your recovery.  
8. Create Structure for yourself- For so long in our active relationship with alcohol, we had zero structure and constantly chased chaos.  You don't have to continue doing that in Sobriety.  Get yourself into a routine.  This doesn't mean you have to be doing the most all the time.  Just means, get out of bed, take a shower, and proceed forward.  There is value in getting dressed each day.

I hope these tips help you with your Journey! 

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