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Resolution Time

NDC_Team
Mayo Clinic
2 0 119

It’s resolution time of the year,...again.  Making a resolution is an admirable New Year tradition but, resolution season can be a time of demoralization and great pressure from self and others.   As a person wanting to make any important change, are you sometimes worried burdened with judgement and expectation from others, or yourself, that your resolution should be completely and perfectly accomplished?  

Quitting smoking or staying tobacco free is a great resolution, as it can be a singular path to achieving three of the most touted New Year’s resolutions:  health (saving your body from smoking related illnesses), wealth (saving your income from smoking related costs) and peace of mind (saving yourself from anguish about engaging in the harmful habit).  However, one can get discouraged by challenges or the fear of failure in light of the expectations by the second week of January. So, how do we resolve to achieve this goal without caving under its weight?   I have suggestion, just a suggestion: approach quitting tobacco or other resolutions in a gentle, uplifting and “bit by bit” way.

Resolve to:

  1. Go beyond verbalizing a resolution and create a plan for managing stress, cravings and triggers.
  2. Resist the tendency to try to conquer the beast on your own. Let others know your goals and challenges.
  3. Resist the urge to “rush” the process.
  4. Resist the tendency to romanticize the relationship with cigarette or old behaviors.
    • For example, beware of thoughts like “It has or had been the only thing that has been there for me through the highs and lows for 30 years.”
  5. Don’t wait to celebrate your accomplishments along the way to the long-term goal.
  6. Resist all or nothing thinking.

Instead:

  1. Identify a plan that can work for you to make the process easier.
  2. Reach out to your trusted family and friends or participate in the EX community.
  3. Take each day at a time, or one moment at a time if need be.
  4. Recognize and draw from your strengths in overcoming great challenges in the past. And remind yourself why you choose to be healthier.
  5. Honor your efforts daily.
  6. Never, ever give up believing in, going after and yes, even fighting for the best healthy lifestyle for you.

Any additional thoughts from EX community members?

Jennifer Burden, PhD

NDC Counselor/CTTS

Michael V. Burke, Ed.D

Program Director and NDC Counselor/ CTTS

About the Author
The Nicotine Dependence Center at Mayo Clinic has been home to physicians, nurse practitioners, Master’s / PhD level counselors, trained TTS’, and amazing office staff for a total of 30 years, all working together to treat individuals who struggle with tobacco use. Counselors meet with an individual to develop their own personalized plan, discuss coping strategies, and provide ongoing support along the journey towards a tobacco-free life. As part of the process, counselors work with physicians and nurse practitioners to provide nicotine replacements and other medications for smoking cessation as needed. We are happy to be involved with the EX Community and we hope our experiences and expertise can help in your journey towards a tobacco-free life. View the link in our signature to see our individual Biographies.