I don’t want to get caught in NML. I’ve seen a few in NML slip up and smoke. It makes me both sad and scared because I know I could be that person who relapses. I spent a lot of time thinking yesterday how I can keep this quit precious and ensure it is my forever quit. I wanted to write out the things that help me keep this quit precious.
Keep my quit precious and be vigilant - I am very well aware I am one puff away from a slip. I tell myself NOPE on a daily basis when I take the daily pledge. I keep my guard up and am ready to tell myself SINAO if I try to rationalize a cigarette.
It’s funny. The other day I mentioned I think about smoking or really, not smoking daily. I think this is a good thing and I might get worried if I didn’t think about not smoking daily. By thinking of not smoking, I am being vigilant and keeping my quit precious.
Remembering my Why – I made a list of 100 reasons to quit smoking. I can take list out every so often and add to it or change it, but at the end of the day, it lists my WHY. I won’t forget there are many reasons to stay quit, but not a single one to smoke again.
Crave busting technique - Somewhere in my past I heard a craving lasts 7 seconds. I am aware a craving can hit anytime and could throw me for a loop if I do get one since I typically haven’t had one in a long while. I tell myself I can wait 7 seconds for this to pass. If it feels like longer than 7 seconds, I tell myself each craving lasts 7 seconds and I am just have a few in a row. I can get through this…..7 seconds at a time. I don’t do this anymore! This feeling will pass!
Healthy Lifestyle - I am beginning to exercise more regularly again and I am eating better. In turn, I feel better and want to become healthier and smoking is certainly NOT a healthy thing to do!
Rewards - I am proud I am an ex-smoker! Since I stopped smoking, I vowed to save that money and reward myself with what I saved. I just hired a personal trainer with some of the money I saved and I have a vacation planned with my family this coming March which is being paid for (in part) with funds I didn’t spent on smokes.
Support and ask for help - I think the most important thing I have done is to come to the Become an EX site and Community boards. The experience, strength, and hope of the members is invaluable. When I need help, I can ask for it and many will jump to assist. I think the biggest driver to a successful quit is support.
I don’t ever want to go back to Day One!
