Stories & experiences

Hi Kath72,
I have also decided it is time to flick the smoking habit.
I am cutting down first and have a quit date of 14/12/19 deadline. I am also nervous about the habit side of things. I’m trying to come up with things to do instead, I’ve been enjoying doing some more self care things over the past few days like face masks and nails.
Best of luck.
I’m sure we can do this.
:))

Hi Kath72. JacZyra has the right idea, cutting down and making plans to stay busy. I didn't plan to quit, but did so while trying to improve my health by researching better diet and through trying a lung cleanse. It sounds scary but is simply boiled onion, turmeric and ginger taken with honey twice a day. One morning after throwing my cigarettes across the room so that I had to get off my duff to get them, I woke and didn't feel that need for a smoke right away, so I put it off and ended up only having 5 of the usual 25 from 30. Joining a quit group then made me realize that there really was hope than i could quit after 45 years. Here I am one year later, smoke free and loving it.

I set a quit date, let the housework go, planned to clean, clean clean,.....closets, laundry, cooking......and ended up spending my time on a quit site reading and writing. I moved the quit date ahead by 10 days and never looked back.

I had just quit my part time job and was fearful too of how to keep busy. It is amazing how many of us took up things to make us look good and feel good before or during the quitting process. I think that looking good makes you feel good , and feeling good makes you happy, being happy makes you relaxed and content and puts things in a positive light. Positive thoughts about this journey that you are about to embark on is mandatory. It is very hard to do something that you feel negative about. Embrace the idea of change and all the good it will bring.

Reward yourself with the little things to make you feel good...new clothing, makeup, nail polish or make a nice steak dinner. Cheesecake for dessert of course! My reward was in every day being able to stay home....retired. Future cigarette costs would definitely factor into my retirement plans. I started playing cards in the afternoons at the seniors meeting place. I spend a lot of time here on iCanQuit which raises dopamine and makes me feel good. It is a very worthwhile cause to engage in. .. ;)

You can do this! Read , Learn and Think Positive!

Hey there! Looks like you’ve got a solid mindset. I’m just in the early stages myself, but going well so far and for me trying to find other ways to relax is huge. I bought myself a tea pot and a few different kinds of teas and am making a tea every time I get a craving. While I’m driving is a huge trigger so I’ve been trying to have something to drink while I drive to keep my hands busy. Also, I know it’s not the most exciting thing, but napping is great! If you’re like me losing nicotine makes you feel tired and it also helps kill time in the crucial first few days.