The Magic of Taking Things One Day at a Time

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." - Lao Tzu

Alcoholics Anonymous encourages its members to take things one day at a time. Otherwise, attempting too much too soon can interfere with achieving sobriety or any major goal.

It’s natural to become overwhelmed if you try to imagine giving up alcohol or any powerful habit permanently. It’s less distressing to think in terms of drinking just water for the next 24 hours or skipping a single happy hour.

Similarly, if you expect to go directly from being a couch potato to running a marathon, you might give up before you even finish your first mile.

With any goal, you’re more likely to succeed with a gradual approach that allows you to boost your confidence and motivation. See what happens when you keep your focus on the present.

How to Live One Day at a Time:

1. Set priorities. Figure out what’s important to you and what you want to achieve. Start with the areas that will have the most significant impact on your quality of life or pick something that will give you an easy victory to build upon.
2. Create a timeline. You’re more likely to follow through with a commitment if you specify the time period. Aim to stop complaining for a single day or even an hour.
3. Limit distractions. Stay focused on your goals. Write them down to make them more concrete. Think about the purpose behind your actions and change your environment if necessary. (*cries in ADHD*)
4. Persevere through obstacles. Plan ahead for what to do in case of setbacks. If you slip up, forgive yourself, and move on.
5. Celebrate your results. One of the advantages of a short time frame is that you can see the outcomes quickly. Thank yourself or use a tangible reward, like a spa day or a fancy coffee drink.
6. Evaluate your progress. Stick to your plans but be flexible. Adjusting your strategy may help you to achieve even more.

Examples of Daily Resolutions:

1. Consume one more vegetable or fruit. Do one thing to upgrade your diet. An easy place to start is adding one more serving of vegetables or fruit. Drink a kale smoothie for breakfast (or strawberry banana, my fav!) or have a salad with lunch.
2. Ride your bike or go for a walk. Set aside time for a physical activity you enjoy. Invite a friend to join you for a bike ride after dinner or go for a nice walk in the morning before work. Yoga, dance, martial arts…whatever you’re into!
3. Go to bed early. Do you struggle to get enough sleep or grow weary during the day? Move your bedtime back 15 minutes each night until you can wake up naturally feeling refreshed.
4. Thank your partner. Let your significant other know how much you appreciate them. Tell them what you admire about them or cook their favorite dinner.
5. Read to your kids. Spend quality time with your children. Read them a story before bed or help them with their homework. Turn off the TV, so you can do arts and crafts or play outdoors.
6. Take a class. Learn something new each day. Sign up for a course online. Listen to a foreign language learning app while you’re brewing coffee or soaking in the tub.
7. Take time to reflect and cultivate a spiritual practice. Start with 5 minutes of quiet reflection and gradually increase the time if that feels comfortable. Sit outside in nature. Visit your local library or browse online for inspiring texts to read or spend some time journaling. These are great places to start.

Remember that long journeys begin with a single step. If thinking too far ahead leaves you feeling like your goals are out of reach, shorten your perspective. Focus on what you can do today. The choices you make now will build momentum for making lasting change.