We've all been there and know what it feels like to cave in to the temptation. (Again.) Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and re-start that quit! Have a plan for what you will do differently this time. For instance:
- Make a list of 25 things you will do before smoking (chores, exercize, phoning a friend, posting to this forum, showering, etc.) and then DO THEM ALL before lighting up. I did this and learned that by the time I hit #10 or #11, I was too exhausted to even think about smoking any more.
- Toss out all smokes and smoking paraphernalia.
- Keep your hands and mouth busy - gum, mints, straws, silly putty, fidget spinners, bubble wrap. (Oh yes, popping bubble wrap. The cats hated me for a while when I first quit.)
- When cravings strike, don't silently brood about them. Get out of your head and into your body. Stand up, shake your arms and legs, shout, cuss, sing a song, punch a pillow. I used to do wall push-ups while shouting "F--K THIS, F--K THIS, F--K THIS" over and over again. (Did I mention how popular I was with the cats?)
- Change up your routine. Put yourself in a different setting or do things at different times than you ordinarily would. This can include spending lots of time in places where smoking is not allowed.
- If possible, spend time with compassionate nonsmoking friends who won't mind if you're a hot mess and who won't let you smoke while you're with them. Not only does this lend support, it also keeps you accountable - because you won't want to confess to them later that you smoked again.
- Understanding that the goal is to become nicotine free, consider temporarily using nicotine gum or lozenges for a while. People have different ideas about NRT, but anything is better than lighting up.
Some of these things will feel pathetic and ridiculous. But so is smoking, pathetic and ridiculous... and lethal. These ideas might not work for you, you may need other tactics. That's fine. The point is, put some creative thought into a plan to divert your energy and then stick to it. If you can white-knuckle it through the worst of the withdrawal symptoms, things do get much better afterwards. I promise. Everyone on the Quit Train is here for you. You can do this.
