Kill the Cigarettes Before They Do Thus-ly to You
Study after study proves that the following “keys,” when used together, will help you quit smoking AND quit for good:
- Talk the Talk! (a.) Tell yourself not only why you need to quit, but why you want to quit. Don’t make it all about your long-term health. Focus also on the fact that you’ll be able to do more things in the here and now: walk further, play sports longer, wake up without coughing, etc. (b.) Tell everyone you know what you’re trying to do. You won’t even have to ask for their help, they’ll automatically give you encouragement and help keep an eye or two on you! They may also come up with some wonderful advice for you. Remember, the best directions come from someone who has taken a road before you - so if you can find an ex-smoker, his or her advice would be golden.
- Walk the Walk! (a.) Learn something new. If you’re putting your focus on something fresh and exciting, you’ll have less time to think about what you’re trying very hard not to think about! Take up a new sport or hobby - tennis, golf, walking, jogging, yoga, pilates, soap-making, gardening, baking, etc… Or, benefit your wallet as well as your health and start an ebay business. It’s exciting, fun, takes a lot of focus, and brings in extra money - always a good thing. (b.) Determine your danger zones - the times when you want “one” the most. If it’s after meals, start brushing your teeth or chewing gum instead. If it’s while talking on the phone, start grabbing a pen and doodling instead.
Something very important to keep in mind. Smoking isn’t a “bad habit,” so when people tell you that it’s all a matter of “willpower,” they’re wrong - well-meaning, I’m sure - but wrong. Smoking is an addiction and quitting is very difficult. The only addiction I have and have ever had is to caffeine, and while it doesn’t compare to the hold nicotene has on its victims, I have an idea how difficult it would be to give up.
Smoking, like other addictions, takes time and a lot of fight on the part of the smoker. It’s when a person finds out just what they’re made of! I’ve read that most people make several attempts at quitting before they’re successful - so if you aren’t successful the first time, try again…and keep trying until you win!
When researching for this article, I read everything I could get my hands on about smoking. People at the library must’ve thought cigarettes had quite a hold on me. I noticed one librarian, in particular, giving me a, “Good for you!” look - I don’t necessarily get a lot of those looks, so I accepted it, no questions asked.
The experts say that if you are unable to quit “cold turkey,” that you should take advantage of nicotine replacement therapy, such as the nicotine inhaler, patch, gum, or nasal spray. There are also non-nicotine medicines, such as bupropion SR.
You’ll have a fight on your hands, to be sure. Your addiction will be on one side, and you’ll be on the other. Since you pretty much created your addiction, it’ll be as strong as you are. Remember in Batman when the Joker tells him, “Destroy me?? You Made me!”? You’re the caped crusader in this situation, and the addiction is the Joker. In the movie, things didn’t end so well for the Joker, and I’m betting that in your fight - you’ll be the last one standing.
Have a great, great week!
Joi
P.S. As another tool, you might be interested in the e-book below. Click on the link and see what you think.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
This is something I’m working on myself. I’ve been able to kick everything but the cigarettes and the coffee. It’s a difficult thing, but I’m keeping it at the top of my list. I’m just not going to quit quitting.
There you go! I can only imagine how hard it must be to quit smoking.
By the way, I just heard that smokers who are trying to quit smoking do better if they chew spearmint gum. Somehow it helps them!
Coffee pretty much owns me. But it’s a relationship I’m good with! ~Joi
coffee has lots of antioxidants….why would you want to quit drinking coffee???
I wouldn’t want to give up coffee, I know all about its benefits - besides antioxidants, it has been proven to lower your risk of alzheimer’s disease. Plus, with my asthma, it is often the only thing that helps me.
I was using it as an example of being hooked on something. While it has countless benefits, it doesn’t lessen the fact that I’m hooked.
That’s all I meant. I certainly would never even hint that I’d quit something that’s such a large part of my day! -Joi
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