How to Make a Resolution to Quit Drinking That Will Really, Really Work

No matter what sobriety goal or resolution you set for yourself, it's important that you be specific on exactly what it is that you want to achieve, or stop doing. The more detailed and precise your goal is, the stronger it becomes and the more likely you are to achieve it. Conversely, the less specific a goal is, the less likely you are to accomplish it as the lack of details weakens it in your mind. Here are some prime examples:

Weak goal: I want to stop getting drunk on the weekends
Strong goal: I will stop doing shots of any kind. The reason for this goal is because whenever I do shots I end up getting drunk and feeling lousy in the morning. Plus, etc, etc

Weak goal: I'm going to cut back on my drinking.
Strong goal: I will not drink during the week. By not drinking during the week I can etc, etc

Weak goal: I will drink less so I have can save money.
Strong goal: I will save $100 a month by not drinking more than ______. I will be happy to stop wasting money on booze so I can instead etc, etc

Weak goal: I will try to stay sober so I can spend more time with the kids.
Strong goal: Saturday night will be family night, and I will not drink during that day or that night. I love my kids so much, and they are much more important to me than alcohol. I will etc, etc

Weak goal: I'm going to drink less so I can lose weight.
Strong goal: I will lose 10 pounds by not drinking on the weekends, and exercising each day. I am determined to get back to my healthy weight because etc, etc

As you can see, the more specific a goal is, the more energy it seems to have.  A weak goal is normally just a throwaway line that has no depth, and no power to it. A strong goal will have at least a couple of sentences to perhaps a couple of paragraphs behind it.

Good Sobriety Goals

Write down at least a paragraph or two (preferably more) about WHAT your goal IS, HOW you are going to accomplish it, and WHY it is so IMPORTANT to you. The more detail you go into, the more you empower yourself. Write down every reason you can think of, no matter how minor. If you want to stop drinking around the kids, then write down WHY that is important to you, and WHAT specifically you are going to do to accomplish it.

You also want to "find the balance" with a goal, making it not too easy, but also not so hard that you may get frustrated and give up. Make it something that you want, but also something that you know you can accomplish if you put your mind to it. For example, if for the last 20 years you've been getting drunk with your friends on a Friday night, that obviously is a long-term habit that will be very difficult to break. Instead, cut that down into a couple of easier-to-achieve goals, such as refusing to do any more shots with them, or limiting yourself to a certain number of drinks. Or, only meeting them every OTHER Friday night. The key is to take a DIFFICULT goal and chop it up into 2 or 3 easier goals that you can definitely accomplish.

Don't have too many goals, either. There may be 10 or 20 things that you want to change in your life, but if you try focusing on each and every one of them you'll find that your willpower will be diluted. Pick the 1 or 2 MOST IMPORTANT goals (one personal, and one professional) and focus on them until they are accomplished. You'll soon find that you'll be able to accomplish them much easier because they have all your attention.

Good habits that you want to develop aren't necessarily the same as goals. Goals have a specific resolution to let you know when it's accomplished. For example, it's a good money "habit" to save a little cash, but a good money "goal" would be specifically how much to save.

Goal Setting Tips:

• Write it down, don't just think of it in your head! Something incredible happens when you write down a goal -as it just takes on a life of it's own, and somehow seems more important than it would otherwise be.
• Be as specific as possible. Write down WHAT your goal is, HOW you intend on achieving it, and WHY it is important to you.
• Visualize accomplishing it, and see in your "mind's eye" the circumstances surrounding it's achievement. Constantly THINK of the goal as having already been accomplished.
• Attach emotion to it, and FEEL the joy you'll experience when all your friends and family realize that you've accomplished your goal.
• Find the balance: not too easy, not too hard; challenge yourself, but don't set yourself up for failure.
• Keep your focus: 2 or 3 goals are more likely to be achieved than 15 or 20.

Finally, although New Year's Day is a great time to start a new goal or resolution to get sober, any time is a good time to try and make yourself a better person. Don't let alcohol get in the way of you becoming that better person. Remember, inside of you is a better you - and that better you can't wait to show the world all the talent, personality and skill you've had hidden inside all these years.