According to best-selling author and motivational speaker Hal Elrod, “Personal growth is about progress, not perfection.” As you’re setting your goals for your recovery, the team at St. Joseph Institute’s Pennsylvania residential addiction treatment center urges you to focus on the journey rather than the destination. 

Understanding the Difference Between Process Goals and Outcome Goals

Unlike outcome goals which focus on a specific result, process goals emphasize the daily actions, habits, and behaviors that lead to success. This fosters a mindset of continuous improvement, as each small step becomes a building block for your desired long-term accomplishments. 

Key benefits of process goals in addiction recovery include:

• Building sobriety-focused habits. Process goals encourage you to establish positive habits, such as attending support group meetings, practicing mindfulness, and maintaining regular therapy sessions, instead of focusing on vague goals with no clear action plan. 
• Creating a structured recovery routine. Building a structured daily routine is a key process goal in addiction treatment. From regular therapy sessions to scheduled recreational activities, a structured routine helps you maintain focus on your recovery objectives.
• Staying motivated by recognizing daily achievements. Celebrating your daily achievements—whether it’s resisting a craving, attending a support group, or completing a step in a recovery program—helps establish ongoing motivation and reinforces a sense of accomplishment.
• Nurturing a growth mindset. Process goals contribute to the development of a growth mindset in addiction treatment. By focusing on your daily achievements and maintaining an optimistic outlook, you are better equipped to stay resilient in the face of setbacks.
• Promoting lifelong learning in sobriety. Process goals promote a commitment to lifelong learning that fits well with the understanding that substance use disorders are chronic illnesses requiring ongoing care. This could involve ongoing education about addiction, attending workshops, and staying informed about strategies for maintaining your sobriety in different life situations.

How to Set Effective Process Goals

Setting effective process goals for recovery involves creating objectives that focus on the actions and behaviors that will positively contribute to your sobriety. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

• Reflect on your recovery journey. Identify the aspects of your life that require attention, improvement, or change. Consider both the challenges you’ve faced and the strengths you’ve developed.
• Identify areas for improvement. Think about areas of your life where you can implement positive changes. This could include building healthy habits, enhancing coping mechanisms, strengthening your support network, or addressing underlying issues such as chronic pain or past trauma that may be contributing to your substance use.
• Use the SMART goal framework. Ideally, you want to formulate process goals that use the SMART framework. This means they are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timebound. 
• Break long-term goals into smaller parts. If you have long-term outcomes in mind, break them down into smaller, manageable steps. For instance, if your goal is to find a new job, smaller goals might include steps such as seeking help writing your resume, practicing your interview skills, joining a professional association, or attending networking events related to your industry. 
• Reevaluate your goals over time. Recovery is dynamic, and circumstances may change. Be flexible and willing to adjust your goals based on your evolving needs and experiences. If you encounter challenges, use them as learning opportunities and adapt your process goals accordingly.

Examples of Process Goals That Support Your Recovery

Every person’s recovery journey is unique, but here are some examples of process goals to help you start the process of setting your own recovery goals. 

• I will attend two support group meetings every week.
• I will attend individual therapy sessions biweekly.
• I will practice mindfulness for 15 minutes each day.
• I will establish a consistent sleep schedule over the next month.
• I will engage in physical activity for 30 minutes, three times a week.
• I will journal about my daily experiences every evening.
• I will practice gratitude daily by noting three positive things that happened during the course of my day.
• I will build a routine of morning affirmations after I’ve eaten breakfast.
• I will limit screen time before bed to no more than 30 minutes.
• I will volunteer for a sober community event once a month.
• I will engage in a favorite hobby at least once per week.
• I will devote at least one hour per week to self-care activities. 

We’re Here to Help

At St. Joseph Institute, we believe there’s no “one-size-fits-all” approach to recovery. Whatever your recovery goals may be, we’ll connect you with the resources you need to turn your dreams into reality. Contact us today to learn more.