QUIT SMOKING LESSON 1
Have you made up your mind to quit smoking?
You know you want to quit, but you just can't figure out how. Every day you get out of bed hacking your head off, coughing until you can barely breathe, and you say to yourself, I have got to quit.
The next thing you know you're lighting up again and wondering why is it so difficult to quit. If you are finally ready to give it everything you've got to quit smoking, then read on.
The first thing you want to do is keep a journal for a few days of every time you light up. What time is it, what were you doing when you decided to light up, and what made you want the cigarette?
Next, go over your journal to figure out why you light up each time. Do you absolutely feel the need to have a cigarette with your morning coffee? What is it that makes you feel good when have the cigarette with your coffee? Is it just a habit because you've done it for so long, or do you really enjoy that morning cigarette?
Do you find yourself lighting up after each meal? Is it just a habit, or does it really top off your dinner? Is there something besides a cigarette that you could replace it with after each meal?
Do you find yourself lighting up whenever you are bored, stressed, on the phone, watching TV, driving or other things that happen every day? Is there something besides a cigarette that could replace the feeling you get from it while doing these activities?
These are the questions you need to ask yourself and find out if you really enjoy smoking or if it has just become such a habit to light up at certain times. Take plenty of time to go to your journal and answer these questions. You may find that you don't really want a cigarette and you just need to find something to replace it with.
Spend the next few days paying close attention to each time you light a cigarette and then ask yourself, do I really want this right now? If the answer is no, put it away.
By taking the time to figure out when and why you smoke, you'll begin to understand your habit. By understanding why you smoke, it will make it easier when you set your quit date to stick with your program.
