I don't want to go home

[laura]

I started work at 7am and got home at 7pm I had a bad feeling that I just didn't want to go home because I couldn't go in a chill in the garden with a cup of tea and a cigarette. How sad I find adjusting difficult :-(

[Nicole Diver]

Adjusting can be difficult! We are human. Just work through it and try and keep yourself distracted. We're always here for you.

[Sazerac]

Go sit in your lovely garden with a delicious cup of tea, a piece of paper and a nice pen or pencil.

Draw something...look/see/draw.

Write something...write a nice letter to yourself.

Make a paper aeroplane and fly it.

Play drums on the table and your teacup with the nice pen or pencil.

Breathe deep,  doesn't that feel good !  

Adjusting is a lot sometimes, I know.

Love,

S

[action]

Laura, you can still enjoy a cuppa in the garden without a cigarette - it is hard to adjust, but each time that you do this, you will be retraining your brain! Your tea will taste better without smoking, too :)

[Jenny]

It gets easier as you go, promise. I had to change my routine around for a while.  Try going for a walk or reading a book.  Something you don't normally do while smoking.  xx

[Doreensfree]

Yes,these times can be hard.....I had to do things totally different....just until I adjusted....

I'm able now to sit and have a chill out coffee and enjoy it.....

It will come...I promise....

[JackiMac]

Hi Laura change to your routine can be unsettling, but you can still go out into the garden, listen to the birds, look up at the sky, have a nice cuppa after a your day's work and tell yourself how lucky you are to be free from smoking and to be able to enjoy the simple pleasures in life.  Small steps hunny, xxx

[Chrysalis]

Laura, you said that what you want to do is relax for a few minutes when you get home. That's perfectly normal. But cigarettes do not have to be part of your relaxation ritual. As a matter of fact, the only thing that cigarettes do is to relieve the nicotine craving caused by your last cigarette, right? They do NOT actually cause you to relax. They are not a sedative.

 

So OK, think about how you would like to relax now. Develop a new "I'm home" ritual. Music is wonderful-- how about putting on some lovely, relaxing music and having a cuppa? Or take your cuppa and go to the garden to watch the birds and smell the flowers. Or develop a ritual where you run yourself a warm bath and have a cuppa while you soak for 15 minutes. The trick is to focus on what it is you WANT-- in this case a brief time for relaxation-- and find a way to satisfy that want without cigarettes. It's really not hard, you just have to be willing to experiment a little. 

[SanDar]

Not much to add here- these folks have given you some great advice.

For me, the toughest was having my first cup of coffee in the morning without a smoke.

The first day felt a little off, but I did it and it just got easier every day.

Now I enjoy my coffee while I do my morning pledge and check out the board here.

It truly does get easier. :)

[action]

Laura, how are you feeling now?

[SueBeDoo]

I promise it gets easier, no actually better is the word I'm looking for, better then before, maybe have a bath with a glass of wine, some candles and some music or maybe take half an hour to meditate.

You could still go out to your garden and have your cuppa and maybe buy yourself a magazine and nice cake or cupcake or whatever tickles your fancy and go sit and relax, I swear to you it will get soooo much more enjoyable, oh or sit out the back and fill up a basin with epsom salts and aromatherapy and soak your feet after a hard day (i loveee doing that) and read a newspaper or magazine and actually relax because you weren't relaxing previously you were only relieving that poxy nicotine crave.

[Nancy]

Laura, just hang in there, it will get better!

[laura]

Hey thanks guys I'm ok i had a nice cup of tea and sat on my sofa and me and my husband planned our route for when we go to oz in December. I'm feeling a lot happier now you guys are great. :-)

[laura]

I will pledge every day NOPE and stay close to the board this time. x

[action]

Hey thanks guys I'm ok i had a nice cup of tea and sat on my sofa and me and my husband planned our route for when we go to oz in December. I'm feeling a lot happier now you guys are great. :-)

I wonder if our Aussie friends could offer any advice based on where you are thinking of going? Also, Doreen's daughter lives there, too :)

[Doreensfree]

I'm more than happy to help if I can....

Boy are you in for a great trip.....plus all the extra spending money you'll have now you have quit.....

[laura]

I know I'm very excited we are going to cairns and travelling back down to Sydney in an motor home. We will start with the great barrier reef then do a sky dive well not straight away because of the altertude. We are going to stay in the big 4 sites along the way. Oh spending money yay can't wait to buy my ugg boots there a lot cheaper in oz so i may get 2 pairs out of the money i saved from quitting smoking :-)

[Doreensfree]

Cairns.....I absolutely love it there.....whenever we have gone to see nicky...we always go there too.....

Sounds like a great trip you have planned.....

If I can answer any questions ,feel free to ask......

I too came laden back with ugh boots ...l.ol.....

[laura]

Thank you doreen :-)

[Pippa]

I know I'm very excited we are going to cairns and travelling back down to Sydney in an motor home. We will start with the great barrier reef then do a sky dive well not straight away because of the altertude. We are going to stay in the big 4 sites along the way. Oh spending money yay can't wait to buy my ugg boots there a lot cheaper in oz so i may get 2 pairs out of the money i saved from quitting smoking :-)

Hi Laura - sorry haven't been to Cairns so can't offer advice there - but you will love Sydney ! So glad you found an alternative for your cup of tea ... Trust me you will establish new routines and you won't miss smoking down the track

[Still winning]

Go across to Manly as well when in Sydney. Beautiful and wonderful place. x

[NayNay]

Darn it, you guys are making me jealous of your travels!  Although I just went to Boston here in the states, I would love to see the Great Barrier Reef, and Sydney, and all the other stuff!  I'm not much of an international traveller though; it is rather expensive too!  Perhaps one day.

 

Laura, enjoy your trip, and even better, you won't have to worry about being in the airports or planes and not being able to smoke for long stretches.  You'll have that part already taken care of!  Also, enjoy the fresh crisp air around you and breathe it in.  Feels so good to do that without coughing doesn't it?  You are doing great.  The craves will hit you here and there, but the longer you resist them and don't think about smoking, the less they will come.  I've been quit for going on 4 months now, and sometimes I get hit with a strong urge to go outside and smoke a cigarette.

 

It gets better.  We're here.  No worries!

[laura]

Hi marti - we will be spending Xmas in manly with our best friends who have just emigrated to oz they live in manly. Looking forward to surfing on bondi Xmas day :-)

 

Thanks naynay - i am happy i wont have to worry about smoking but i am not looking forward to the flight but not smoking will ease the stress. :-)

[Still winning]

Best place in the world I've been...cyprus was a close 2nd but it's all about manly! Good work.

 

Not smoking can feel tough laura, but you get there one step at a time. The freedom both physically and mentally, not to mention financially for these trips is so worth the mental discomfort!

 

This foot that foot this foot that foot. Don't think long term, don't over think. Each situation, deal as it comes. Just for today. And you'll be golden I promise!!