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    What's your Sobriety Plan?

    I believe it was Gumby on another thread who asked a very good question. We all talk about "having a plan." So what exactly does a plan look like? I'm hoping it will be helpful if we can all post our daily plans on this thread to share informationa and provide examples of what we do.

    As I tried to document my plan, I realized how much it's changed over time since I first started. And I'm sure I forgot some things but I will use the "Edit" feature to come back and add things if I realize I forgot something. (see button at the lower right corner of any post YOU make - you can only edit your own posts.)

    You will also see that my personal plan involves a lot of AA. That's only because AA has worked out well for me, along with a lot of the MWO program. (which is outlined in the book available from the Health Store here). I realize AA is not for everyone and I'm not suggesting that anyone else's plan should be exactly like mine. What I WOULD like to point out is that I find a tremendous benefit is doing things first thing in the AM to set the stage for a peaceful and sober day. EVERY DAY. If I slack off, I start losing my mental balance. So this is a daily thing for me.

    Here is what I currently do on a daily basis to stay sober.

    1. Before I get out of bed, I start with some meditation and prayer including the Serenity prayer. I give thought to my plans for the day and get mentally organized.
    2. After I get dressed and made up, I have a coffee and talk to my AA sponsor on the phone. We have become close friends and these conversations are very positive. If I have anything challenging on my mind, I ask for input.
    3. I started out with the full range of supplements in the MWO starter kit. I have customized this over time to my needs and take the appropriate supplements split between morning and evening.
    4. Check in with the Daily AF thread and Weekly AA thread at MWO
    5. Attend 7AM AA meeting before work activities (usually 5 days per week) or just read some of the readings at this link: Daily Recovery Readings
    6. NOW I?m ready to face the world with my head on straight!!  Take care of my daily business.
    7. I exercise at home or at the gym with a goal of 5X per week. (3X weights & cardio, 2X cardio only)
    8. Follow a no sugar, moderate carb eating plan with very little processed food.
    9. On weekends, do some service work helping other alcoholics (calling or meeting with other AAers, help out at the Alano club, talk to my sponsee, post at MWO ? some variety of those things?)
    10. Whenever I feel myself getting worked up, say serenity prayer and decide if the issue is something I can control or not. Act, or forget about it.
    11. End the day with some reflection about the day. What worked, what didn?t, are there any wrongs I committed that I need to right, etc. Think a little about the day ahead and the plans.

    Other things I do regularly:
    1. Maintain my gratitude list. When I start feeling sorry for myself (pity party) take a look at all I have to be truly grateful for.
    2. Maintain a list of things to do. This is a combo of ?chore? type things but also fun things. If I have an urge to drink, I need to focus on something else. That?s when I pull out this list of things to do.
    3. Have a plan for any social events where I have to be around AL:
    a. Eat before I go
    b. Decide what I will drink and bring my own if appropriate
    c. Have an exit strategy.
    d. Decide in advance that I will ALWAYS leave before I drink AL.
    e. Arrive late, leave early.

    4. Plan social activities with SOBER people.
    5. Have reading material around that aids me in my sobriety. (i.e. biographies of people who have sobered up and how they did it, AA or other literature, etc.)

    Sobriety is my #1 priority every single day. It has to be. I put a lot of effort into it. But my reward is that the obsession to drink has left me. I don't get strong urges to drink any more. To me? My efforts are all worth while. I no longer want to kill myself wondering what possible reason I have to live.

    So...what's YOUR plan?

    DG
    Sobriety Date = 5/22/08
    Nicotine Free Date = 2/27/07


    One day at a time.

    #2
    What's your Sobriety Plan?

    EXCELLENT POST, Doggygirl. I intend to copy/paste it to a Word Document that I can reference often. Thank you!
    :crazymonkey: RivEd

    Comment


      #3
      What's your Sobriety Plan?

      Doggy, this is a FABULOUS example of a plan. Yes, others have to tailor it to suit their lives, but DANG, girl, this is GREAT. I'm printing it out now too, since I can add some of your day to my plan to enhance it. I can't see ONE thing that wouldn't work for me, or prob anyone else. You are awesome! :hug:
      sigpic
      Never look down on a person unless you are offering them a hand up.
      awprint: RUBY Imagine yourself doing What you love and loving What you do, Being happy From the inside Out, experiencing your Dreams wide awake, Being creative, being Unique, being you - changing things to the way YOU know they can BE - Living the Life you Always imagined.awprint:

      Comment


        #4
        What's your Sobriety Plan?

        Thank you so much DG
        You are a blessing for all of us
        AF since 03/26/09
        NF since 05/19/09
        Success comes one day at a time :thumbs:

        Comment


          #5
          What's your Sobriety Plan?

          I hope this post stays around. I'd love to know I can direct people to it when they ask 'what does "plan" mean'. You do more before work than many do all day!!!
          sigpic
          Never look down on a person unless you are offering them a hand up.
          awprint: RUBY Imagine yourself doing What you love and loving What you do, Being happy From the inside Out, experiencing your Dreams wide awake, Being creative, being Unique, being you - changing things to the way YOU know they can BE - Living the Life you Always imagined.awprint:

          Comment


            #6
            What's your Sobriety Plan?

            rubywillow;828668 wrote: I hope this post stays around. I'd love to know I can direct people to it when they ask 'what does "plan" mean'. You do more before work than many do all day!!!
            I spend a LOT less time on my daily sobriety plan than I used to spend recovering from the previous days drinking, planning to drink, and drinking. A LOT less. And the things I do now are far more mentally stimulating and enjoyable. And memorable in the sense that..."I can remember what I did."

            I'm glad the suggestion of plans came up because I found it a good exercise to write this out. If I ever start to drift, the document will give me a good reference point to get back to what I know works for me.

            DG
            Sobriety Date = 5/22/08
            Nicotine Free Date = 2/27/07


            One day at a time.

            Comment


              #7
              What's your Sobriety Plan?

              THANKS DG!!!!!
              Tiny

              Comment


                #8
                What's your Sobriety Plan?

                Hi All
                DG this should be a must read for all in the fight to get sober. It is certainly a blueprint for the person who wants to get al out of their lives. It shows the commitment needed to be successful ,which you have. Many will say it is a lot of time required. If it is the most important thing in your life it will require time and effort. To get al out of your life it does have to become the most important thing in your life every day TO NOT DRINK.
                So happy to see another member enjoying the AF life after doing the hard work involved in breaking away. You continue to inspire.


                Stay Healthy and Keep Fighting
                AF 5-16-08
                Stay Healthy and Keep Fighting
                AF 5-16-08

                Comment


                  #9
                  What's your Sobriety Plan?

                  OK you other sober people! Time to include YOUR plans in this thread too! (Caysea? Ruby? Others? I know you guys all put daily effort into your sobriety. We want to see your blueprint too!)

                  DG
                  Sobriety Date = 5/22/08
                  Nicotine Free Date = 2/27/07


                  One day at a time.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    What's your Sobriety Plan?

                    The whole point IS to have a plan. Funny~ I just commented on IAD's quote post:

                    "Antoine de Saint-Exupery:
                    A goal without a plan is just a wish."
                    And I learned that the hard way.....over & over & over.
                    :notes:
                    My mind not only wanders, sometimes it leaves me altogether.

                    "When enough is enough, that's when you know your half way there"-Tim Mcllrath

                    Comment


                      #11
                      What's your Sobriety Plan?

                      DG...this is great!! More than that....it worked!!

                      My plan has continued to evolve over time. When I first arrived here and decided to really learn to live sober, I had a pretty simple plan.

                      Read the MWO Book

                      Bought the supplements, Kudzu and L-Glutamine in particular

                      Set my Quit Date

                      Got Rid of all the alcohol in the house...poured out even the Xmas gifts etc.

                      Found others here who were Serious about sobriety, and a few with some true long term success
                      When cravings would occur.....I would walk....get out of the house and just walk

                      Bought some books on women in transition....EAT,PRAY, LOVE, A YEAR BY THE SEA.....and others (I did not choose books on alcoholism...I wanted to rebuild my life, without acohol)

                      Evening Chat at MWO....Fortunately evening chat was sober chat at that time! I feel badly that these days, evening chat is more like a bar. I did not seek sympathy or coddling...I wanted to hear the truth and I needed tough love!

                      Daily meditation morning and night....(even if it was only 5 minutes)

                      Journaling....I kept a journal of my thoughts....struggles, and successes

                      The first couple of weeks, the supps helped to take the edge off the cravings....but, it was sheer willpower that got me through the rough spots. One of the hardest things to push through, was telling myself that "I Deserved a Drink"....."That I could begin again Tomorrow". That this is very hard and most people "SliP"....no big deal...etc.

                      I had to accept that I am an alcoholic, but I am not powerless. I hold the power to drink or not drink...period! Slipping, is no accident, it is a CHOICE. The choice to allow the excuses to slip in and validate......then pour that first drink.

                      Changing routine....I began to change my routine.....sometimes in the evening during the witching hour, I would drive to B&N, the library or Starbucks.....listen to music and read.....anything that kept me busy and not dwelling on Not Drinking.....this evolved into dwelling on all that I could and would do sober!

                      So...this became my Plan for the first 6 months to a year....

                      I hope this helps!

                      xxx Kate
                      A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes~Cinderella

                      AF 12/6/2007

                      Comment


                        #12
                        What's your Sobriety Plan?

                        This is great Kate!

                        DG
                        Sobriety Date = 5/22/08
                        Nicotine Free Date = 2/27/07


                        One day at a time.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          What's your Sobriety Plan?

                          Bump - I'd like to keep this on the first page.
                          sigpic
                          Thoughts become things..... choose the good ones. ~TUT

                          Comment


                            #14
                            What's your Sobriety Plan?

                            Great post DG My Plan

                            Okay I had another friggin bump on the weekend. Dealing with some heartache but AL only makes me feel worse. Stupid Beast.

                            Today during the witching hour:

                            1) Make snack for myself and kids for after pool
                            2) Take kids to pool with hubby. I'll do my swim workout.
                            3) EAT snacks on way home to curb cravings
                            4) Have supper in crockpot ready to eat when we all get home
                            5) Read with kids
                            6) Go to bed.

                            I have been making plans on and off and I really need to do it everyday.

                            Let's hear some more plans people! :thumbs:

                            Comment


                              #15
                              What's your Sobriety Plan?

                              bump
                              sigpic
                              Thoughts become things..... choose the good ones. ~TUT

                              Comment

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