I recently came across these ideas from the National Cancer Institute about what to do with your time when you stop smoking. I want to share them with you.
What To Expect
- You may take a break at work and find that you now have nothing to do.
- You may feel very bored when waiting for something or someone (a bus, your spouse, your kids).
Did You Know?
- Many smokers say they sometimes smoke to overcome boredom.
What To Do
- Plan more activities than you have time for.
- For those empty minutes, make a list of things you like to do.
- Move! Do not stay in the same place too long.
- Carry a book, magazine, or crossword puzzle for waiting times.
- Notice what is going on around you. (Look at the shape of the buildings you pass, listen to the sounds outside around you.)
- Carry something (like a cell phone) to keep your hands busy.
- Listen to a favorite song.
- Go outdoors, if you can, but not to places you associate with smoking.
Nicotine and Your Body and Mind
- For smokers, boredom often brings the urge to smoke—this urge may have a physical and chemical basis.
- When you quit smoking, you may miss the increased excitement and good feeling that nicotine gave you. This may be true when you are feeling bored.
Keep up the good work…you can do it!!
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April 27th, 2009 at 1:04 am
Hey have you ever tried using e-cigarettes? There much better for you than regular cigarettes and i heard a lot of people have more success quitting with the use of one. Also just using an e-cigg isnt that harmfull as a doctor even told me once nicotine isnt bad for you entirely its just how were taking it in thats bad. If your looking to pickup a cheap one check out http://www.amazingeciggs.com because there quite expensive in stores.
April 28th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
The concern about e-cigarettes is that it has not been put through rigorous testing, so its safety can’t be confirmed. The nicotine patch and nasal spray have gone through such testing. In most countries e-cigarettes have escaped such testing so far.
Nicotine is highly addictive and causes the release of the “feel good” chemical dopamine when it goes to the brain. It also increases heart rate and blood pressure and restricts blood to the heart muscle. It is unknown if the smoke/mist put out by the e-cigarette is harmful to passive “smokers”, because no testing has been done. This alone is a concern.
Some companies who claim that e-cigarettes can help you kick the smoking habit have gone as far as to falsely cite the approval of the WHO. News of this led the WHO to release a statement in September that made clear that they did not consider the electronic cigarette to be a legitimate therapy for smokers trying to quit.
According to MSNBC: “The World Health Organization issued a statement in September warning there was no evidence to back up contentions that e-cigarettes are a safe substitute for smoking or a way to help smokers quit.
It also said companies should stop marketing them that way, especially since the product may undermine smoking prevention efforts because they look like the real thing and may lure nonsmokers, including children.
“There is not sufficient evidence that (they) are safe products for human consumption,” said Timothy O’Leary, a communications officer at the WHO’s Tobacco Free Initiative in Geneva.”
For the full article, go to http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29435175/
June 20th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
Very useful info..thanks for sharing! adios
June 22nd, 2009 at 1:26 pm
I got my first electronic cigarette this weekend, really glad I bought one!
June 30th, 2009 at 1:26 am
I found blogs.valpo.edu very informative. The article is professionally written and I feel like the author knows the subject very well. blogs.valpo.edu keep it that way.
July 11th, 2009 at 9:01 am
Hmmm….not sure I am following this Quitting Tobacco: Facing Boredom … Without Smoking thread very well.
July 21st, 2009 at 1:01 pm
I don’t buy what you just said.
August 5th, 2009 at 4:55 am
Obviously one of the first steps that you will need to take is to remove all possibilities of having access to cigarettes from the day you start your program. You need to get rid of all the cigarettes you have in your possession. Many people like to retain one pack of cigarettes as something to fall back on ‘just in case they need one’ but this is setting yourself up for failure before you start
August 22nd, 2009 at 5:00 am
Hope everybody has (or had) a nice holiday.
October 1st, 2009 at 2:06 pm
I’ve been reading your posts and I feel very concerned. I’ve been a smoker for over 30 years and even though I’ve recently switched to new, healthy cigarettes, I’m still worried about the damage I’ve done my lungs so far. Follow me at http://healthysmoker.blogspot.com
October 7th, 2009 at 2:54 am
I usually don’t post in Blogs but your blog forced me to, amazing work.. beautiful …
October 31st, 2009 at 11:30 pm
Thanks for writing this. It was interesting. You seem very knowledgeable in your field.
November 10th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
Really good read, nice to read a good blog at last!
November 14th, 2009 at 1:35 am
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