I find what helps me staying sober is to write down both what you "want" and what you "don't want" out of sobriety. For myself, it's easy to quit, but at times it's very difficult to stay quit. By keeping these things fresh in my mind, it's been very helpful. Sure, I've had a few slips along the way, but all in all it's been pretty effective.
What I want out of sobriety:
1. Spend more time with my family and children. Good quality time, not drunken time. If I am drinking, then my life will revolve around alcohol and I won't fully be "there".
2.I want to focus a lot on interpersonal communications, being funny, talking to people, becoming more social, becoming more fun to be around. I can only do this if I'm sober.
3. I want to do more physical activities, i.e. working out at the gym, going skiing, mountain biking, camping in the summer, hiking, fishing. If I'm drinking, all of these things become secondary and unimportant.
4 .I want to read 50 books this coming year. I would never read if I was drinking.
5. I want to save up money for a new house and put some away for retirement. I have to spend all that extra money somewhere, right?
6. I want to continue to better myself mentally, emotionally, psychologically, and physically. From past experience, if I continue to drink, all of these areas will continue to deteriorate.
7. I want to be a positive person to be around for my family and friends. An alcoholic is like a tornado to be around for those close to him, and the tornado gradually gets worse, not better. I have seen this first hand. I don't want to be a tornado.
What I don’t want out of sobriety:
1. I don’t want to always be tired and feel like crap – I do this by staying sober.
2. I don’t want to be constantly doing stupid things while drunk and then regretting it the following morning, putting my family relationships in jeopardy and eventually face losing them (this will certainly happen, there is no doubt).
3. I don’t want to always be on the verge of a panic attack and suffering from unbearable anxiety – I do this by staying sober.
4. I don’t want to spend all my money on alcohol (liquor stores, bars, drinks) – I do this by staying sober.
5. I don’t want to be a liar, a cheater, and a thief. I do this by staying sober.