Twenty-five years ago, I picked up my first smoke. Looking back now, I could slap that sucker right out of my hand but at the time, it was to me, simply a necessity. I needed to smoke that cigarette just to fit in. To not be the only one in my small group of friends that didn't. So began my addiction. I sit here now, 37 years old. A member of the healthcare field. I know what smoking can and will more than likely do to my body, what it has already done. It's not just my body either, it is walking into work and worrying that I smell of cigarettes. It is not wanting people to ride in my car because I know it is covered in flakes of tiny ashes and it has that horrible smell. It is having to go stand outside to smoke, especially as the weather begins to turn cold again. It is having to get up during the middle of a movie that I am watching with my kids so that I can go outside and smoke. This is a list I am currently gathering and I will continue to add to over the next 29 days as I head towards my quit date of November 24th. Is this a good date? I'm not certain it really is but if I don't do this now, it will be another 6 months or so, maybe a year before I try again. So, better get to it. I'm not sure what my plan of attack will be just yet. I only signed up minutes ago and joined this program. Signing up was my second step following my decision to finally get this done and have it knocked off my to-do list. Writing, while not very skilled at it, is something that I like to do and I do plan to use this as an outlet. To sit on my porch and write instead of smoke. I know many people say to change your routine up and do things different in order to help you quit smoking but I almost feel like I am the type that doing this to drastically would cause me more stress. Changing my habits. My initial thought is to still get up in the morning, fix my coffee and head to the porch. Maybe I will sit in a different chair. Maybe I will pick a different point in my routine to go outside. I really don't know yet. I think this is my starting point though. Over the next few weeks, as I prepare for my quit date, I will test these small changes. Eliminate that one cigarette. One at a time. Until quitting doesn't seem so terrifying. Tomorrow it's coffee only during morning porch time. Small steps lead to great victories!
My steps during this first seven days will be:
- Make the decision to quit and pick a date - DONE - date 11/24/20 (Happy Birthday Memaw!)
- Seek support through a community of ex-smokers - In Progress
- Start a list of why's to help remind me of my reasons on the tough days
- Remove one smoke break from my day
Looking forward to being an ex! I appreciate any support, words of encouragement, advice (if something I'm planning to try is known to fail, by all means let me know!).
Tori
