Day 33

…continued from Day 32. I forgot to offer advice on way to quit smoking and how to recognize triggers. Look at the reasons and times you have a cigarette. If you are serious about quitting, then you need to have a quit plan for those particular moments. For instance, after you eat, do the dishes or write in a journal or suck on something that would taste horrible with a cigarette.

After a day of work, reward yourself by going to the bank and putting $5 if a separate special smoking savings account. When you are on the phone, be sure both hands are in the dirt or doing something so you cannot smoke. Only allow yourself to call people during times when you normally would not be available to smoke.

Have 2 or 3 projects going at all times. This way if you think you need a cigarette, but don’t feel like doing your outside project, stay in and keep your hands busy with your inside project. Sorting things like old photos, paperwork, and ‘missing pair socks’ are great hand occupying tasks.

The goal is to kick the habit first. Once you’ve kicked the motion of keeping your mouth and hands busy, then you are half way there. Recognizing what triggers smoking is the psychological part of the battle. Have a cheat sheet with you that is similar to this:

Why do I want a cigarette?

*Something or someone upset you...Read passages from an inspiring book to remind you of positive thoughts

*You just ate...Do dishes and suck on black licorice or something that tastes horrible with cigarettes

*You just finished something big and 'derserve' a reward...Create a ‘journal of accomplishments’ and note the task, date complete, and how it makes you feel inside

*Bored?...Call a positive influence that knows you are trying to quit and be accountable and tell them you are bored

*Just woke up and have coffee...Read the paper or check your e-mail or Facebook with coffee

*You are going to be driving or riding in a vehicle for a long time...Skip breathing in the carbon monoxide since you’ll be cooped up in a vehicle for awhile anyway and have good singing CD’s or even a audio book (a steamy romance, or positive healing, or self help of some sort)

*You just think you deserve one...Carry a bag of rewards with at all time. It can be money that can be added to you quitting savings account, or small candies you savor

On the bottom of this list should be the names and numbers of your accountability partners. That way if nothing is stopping you and you think you are going to die if you don’t have one, you can call and we’ll ‘talk you off the ledge of relapse’.

I’m not a psychologist nor can I treat or cure disease, but I do have years of personal experience on addiction. I do know of some methods that work.