These are 10 rules that I want to keep close at hand so I am posting them in my blog! Impatience, Alcohol, self-neglect and negativity are all things I've struggled with and I have to stay conscious and on the ball....one day at a time!
Adam
Repost: Note from
Gramma CeeCee;
I know this is a
pretty long one, but it's got some really great stuff in it. It's probably one
of the best that I've collected and put into my library.
Hugs,
GCC
138 days quit (Now
841 Days quit)
We all want this quit
to be the quit. We're looking for permanent freedom from nicotine addiction.
This article takes a look at some of the things
you should avoid when
quitting tobacco. Build a strong quit program by educating yourself about the
process!
1. Don't be
impatient.
The natural tendency
is to quit smoking and expect to be done with it within a month. Cessation just
doesn't work like that. When you quit smoking, you are letting go of a habit
that you've had for many years,
if not all of your
adult life. It's only fair to expect that breaking all of the old associations
down will take some time.Sit back, relax, and put some time between you and
that last smoke. Have patience with yourself, and with the process.
2. Don't worry about
forever.
It can be
overwhelming to think you'll never smoke another cigarette.
Don't do that to
yourself. Train your mind to stay in the here and now of today. This is where
your power is, and always will be. You can't do a thing about yesterday or
tomorrow, but you sure can control today. If you find your mind wandering in
either direction, pull it back. Pay attention to your thoughts, and do your
best to stay focused on the day you have in front of you.
3. Don't be negative.
It's been said that
the average person has approximately 66,000 thoughts in a given day, and
two-thirds of them are negative. We can be so hard on ourselves! Don't beat
yourself up for things you can't change, such as the years you spent smoking.
Don't look at past quit attempts as failures.
Learn from the
experiences you've had and move on. Think about all of the positive changes
you're creating in your life. Successful long-term cessation always starts in
the mind. Focus on your purpose and develop an attitude of gratitude. We have a
way of believing what we tell ourselves over and over. Don't feed yourself negatives.
Affirm the changes you are working to create in your life, and action will
follow more easily.
4. Don't neglect
yourself.
This is a time when
you should be taking extra care to make sure all of your needs are getting met.
Following these simple guidelines will help you weather withdrawal more
comfortably:
Eat a well-balanced
diet. Your body needs good quality fuel now more than ever as it works to flush
the toxins out of your system.
Get more rest. You
will need it, and chances are you'll feel extra fatigue for a few weeks. Don't
fight it. Sleep more if you can.
Drink water. Water is
a great quit aid. It helps you detox more quickly, works well as a
craving-buster, and by keeping yourself hydrated, you'll feel better overall.
Drink as much of the stuff as you can manage.
Exercise daily.
Walking is a wonderful way to get your exercise if you don't already have a
favorite physical activity. It's a good, low impact aerobic workout, and it
works well to keep cravings in check. Take a few 15 minute walks every day and
see if it improves your spirits.
Take a daily
multi-vitamin. Giving your body an extra boost this way isn't a bad idea for
the duration of the withdrawal process. Cigarettes deplete so many nutrients.
It may help you regain your energy more quickly. Withdrawal isn't a pain-free
experience, but it is survivable, and it is certainly short-lived. Always keep
in mind the fact that withdrawal
from nicotine is a
temporary condition.
5. Alcohol and
tobacco go hand-in-hand...Don't drink.
I probably don't need
to tell you that alcohol and tobacco go hand-in-hand.
New quitters are
tender. Putting yourself into a social setting where there is drinking too soon
after quitting can be dangerous. Don't rush it. The time will come when you can
have a drink without it triggering the urge to smoke, but don't expect that to
be within the first month, or perhaps even the first few months. We're all a
little different in how we go through recovery, so defining a specific time
frame isn't realistic. Just be aware of your own situation.
If you have an
engagement coming up that involves drinking and you feel nervous about that, it
may be best to postpone until you're feeling
stronger. If that's not an option, have a plan in place for how you'll manage
the event smoke free. Will you be able to excuse yourself to step our for some
fresh air? Can you request that people don't smoke around you? However you
decide to handle a situation, don't be shy about it. This is your life we're
talking about here, and quitting tobacco has to be a top priority for awhile.
Whatever you need to do to maintain your quit, you should do. Period! Remember,
life won't always be this way - it will return to normal eventually.
6. Don't overdo.
We've talked about
taking care not to neglect your physical health. Your emotional well-being is
every bit as important. Stress can build if you're not careful, and before you
know it, you're fighting a strong urge to smoke.
Early cessation
creates its own tension, let alone all of the other things that come and go in
our busy daily lives. Make sure you don't let yourself get run down to the
point of exhaustion and that you take time every single day to destress with an
activity that you enjoy. Whether it's time alone with a good book, a hot bath,
or working on a hobby, make sure you incorporate some YOU time. Fatigue and
stress are big triggers to smoke, and it can be a quick jump to feeling that
you need a cigarette to cope. Plan ahead of time how you'll keep yourself out
of those danger zones.
7. Don't take
yourself too seriously.
You will have bad
days. Expect and accept that. Such is cessation, and such is life. On those off
days, make a vow to put yourself on ignore! Sometimes the best thing we can do
is to get out of our own way. Our minds can make a small issue huge, and make a
drama out of every little thing if our moods are out of whack. When you have a
bad day, use it as an excuse to pamper yourself excessively. I say that in all
seriousness. Be good to yourself and put your thoughts on hold. Decide to wait
and see what tomorrow will bring. Nine times out of ten you'll wake up feeling
100% better, and I promise you you'll be grateful to still be smoke free.
8. Don't be afraid to
ask for help.
Statistics show that
people who quit with a healthy support system in place have a much higher rate
of success over time. If you don't have people around you who are supportive,
and even if you do, add some online support to your quit program. There is
nothing better than bending the ear of a person who knows exactly what you are
going through. Getting help from people who have 'been there and done that' is
worth its weight in gold.
9. Don't believe that
you can have "just one".
There is no such
thing. It doesn't work with Lays potato chips, and it sure doesn't work with
cigarettes. Smoke one cigarette, and you run a very high risk of being back to
a pack a day quicker than you can imagine. Don't fall for faulty thinking. A
relapse always begins in the mind. If you recognize unhealthy thoughts of
smoking cropping up, it's time to renew your resolve.
10. Don't forget.
You quit smoking for
a reason. Probably several. Don't let time and distance from the habit cloud
your thinking. Keep your memory green by reviewing your reasons often. They
will never be less true as time goes by,but they can feel less critical if
you're not careful.
Cessation is a
journey.
Take it one simple
day at a time, and you'll find that what started out as a difficult task soon
enough becomes an enjoyable challenge.
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