Have you been too afraid to even try quitting cigarettes? Then work on some seemingly less significant habits like always lighting up in certain places, before or after a meal, while on the telephone, walking to the car or before turning out the lights.
Whether or not you realize it, you have developed other behaviors that are connected to your smoking. Most of these behaviors are probably not bad for you until they trigger the impulse to light up.
Consider altering as many of these patterns BEFORE your quite date. Invest in an elegant pocket sized journal and a nice pen. They’ll probably cost about the same as a carton of smokes. Your first entry will be your promise to yourself and a photo of yourself when you were NOT a smoker. Keep this in the same place you would normally keep your smokes. In fact you can rubber band them together with your coffin nails for easy access.
Commit to making an entry for every cigarette with a date and time/place/alone or with someone/feelings, thoughts, etc. After one week, separate the journal and the cigarettes and put your smokes somewhere that is not as easily accessible. Decide to make the entry BEFORE you light up and then delay your plans to smoke by 5 or 10 minutes.
The goal it to interrupt the pattern of reacting to the addictive triggers and dislodge the strongholds by modifying your behavior.
Eventually, patterns and needs will become evident. Get courageous and attempt to just not have a cigarette RIGHT when you think of it. Take three deep cleansing breaths and do something healthy, positive or productive first.
By the time your quit date arrives, you will be well on your way to breathing happy!
Remember: Journal and Count YOUR VICTORIES, however small they might be!
Start counting your victories now!