Thinking of Quitting Smoking?

Trying to Stop Smoking?

1) Get a clear picture in your mind of why you need to stop . . . is it for your health, your loved ones health, because you were diagnosed with a health condition, you want to stop feeling sluggish, etc.
2) Tell someo...ne else of your plans to stop for accountability. Let them know when you plan to start so they can remind you and keep track of your intentions.

3) Be in tuned to your emotions when you feel the urge to smoke. Are you feeling nervous about something, did somenone make your upset, do you normally smoke when you are drinking your coffee, etc.
4) Write down your feelings in this quick record from HealthEsense. It’s a good way to take a glance at your failures and successes. No one expects you to be successfully free from smoking right away. Although some have stopped “cold turkey”, It generally takes time for others.
5) It’s good to journal about your experiences so you can keep track of what worked, what didn’t work. Continue to journal for a few months, and refer to your notes later. Hopefully you wont need to start the process over, but you may get weak and begin to smoke again. Referring to what was successful in the past may prove to keep you on the right track next time.
6) Do other busy work doing your urges to smoke and keep track of what works. Maybe clean out a cabinet, organize some shelves, empty out a junk drawer, etc.
7) Some people have to chew gum, crunch on something, or some sort of “oral ritual”. Eating baby carrots is a great way to kill that need for oral stimulation.
8) Reward yourself each day. Maybe have a list of your rewards for not smoking
so many cigarettes in a day. Rewards are greater, the less times you smoke. For example:

• I get to do / have __________________ for only smoking 5 to 6 times today

• I get to do / have __________________ for only smoking 3 to 4 times today

• I get to do / have __________________ for only smoking 1 to 2 times today

• I get to do / have __________________ for not smoking at all today

Look for our HealthEsense stop smoking record here on this blog.