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Share your quitting journey

Things to do instead of smoking

maggie_8-1-2010
0 12 100

Reposted by request! https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/best-of-ex/blog/2008/05/03/things-to-do-instead-of-smoking 

 

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  There has been a lot of "talk" about what to do when the urge stikes. This is a list of 100 things - you can add your own if you'd like!  I'm thankful to the person who wrote it. Read thru them you may find a thing or 2  that hits you just right!                         

  
   
    

 

    

1. Read a book.

    

2. Wash the car.

    

3. Wash the dog.

    

4. Go for a walk.

    

5. Knit a scarf.

    

6. Do a crossword puzzle.

    

7. Take a nap.

    

8. Call a friend.

    

9. Post a comment on my page

    

10. Play with the cat.

    

11. Turn the bathroom into a spa and do all those beauty treatments.

    

12. Listen to a relaxation tape or some favorite music.

    

13. Go to a store and get a free make-up session.

    

14.Give yourself a manicure and pedicure.

    

15. Try out a new hair-do

    

16. CHEW SOME CLOVES!

    

17. Go to the movies.

    

18. Hang out at a mall.

    

19. Do a jigsaw puzzle online at Jigzone.com

    

20. Breathe deeply!

    

21. Swig down some ice water.

    

22. Jump on a treadmill or go to a gym.

    

23. Give someone you love a huge hug.

    

24. Plant some flowers.

    

25. Do some exercise - swimming, aerobics, yoga, etc. Great for releasing endorphins (feel good factor) and relieving stress (physical and mental).

    

26. Work out how to post a picture in the forum!

    

27. Take up a new hobby/interest - channel your thoughts into something constructive and interesting.

    

28. Work in the garden.

    

29. Retail therapy with the cash you saved from not smoking.

    

30. Suck on a piece of TART candy (Jolly Rancher is my personal favorite).

    

31. Slather on a rich, creamy hand lotion and rub, rub, rub! It keeps fingers busy, and reminds you how nice it is not to have tobacco stink on them.

    

32. Eat a popscicle.

    

33. Floss and brush your teeth.

    

34. Make-out with your special someone! Hubby hated kissing me when I smoked, but now he LOVES it. Soooo, when the urge strikes and he's within kissing distance, I plant a big one on him!

    

35. Chew gum.

    

36. Chew a toothpick (shiny teeth).

    

37. Spend time with a kid.

    

38. Give yourself a treat every day of your quit - not matter how small.

    

39. Spend an hour filling the paddling pool in the garden on a gorgeous sunny day, only to find that the kids would rather play on the computer.

    

40. Play several games of Internet Scrabble, and hopefully win one!

    

41. Walk in an old graveyard with the man you love.

    

42. Get your jammies on early, and park yourself in front of your computer for the night.

    

43. Build a REAL closet

    

44. Hang the sheetrock on said closet.

    

45. Do the mudding, taping and sanding on that closet.

    

46. Paint the closet.

    

47. Add the doors to the closet.

    

48. And last...when the real closet is finished, create THE CHOCOLATE CLOSET on this site.

    

49. Hang on dearly to a caramel apple sucker.

    

50. Sing loudly.

    

51. Practice smiling in the mirror (releases endorphins)!

    

52. Make lists of pros and cons of smoking.

    

53. Find gross smoking disease pictures.

    

54. Play with Silly Putty.

    

55. Whistle "Don't Worry - Be Happy."

    

56. Get a camera, and take some pictures.

    

57. Write a letter (you know...on paper).

    

58. Clean OUT the closets.

    

59. Crank up the radio and sing at the top of your lungs (works great for driving craves).

    

60. Crank up the radio and dance like no one is watching. 61. Make a puzzle.

    

62. Organize your boxes of pictures.

    

63. Alphabetize your CD rack.

    

64. Come here and read and post.

    

65. Go to miniclip.com and PLAY GAMES.

    

66. Do your nails. Hard to smoke with wet nails. I've tried.

    

67. Take a shower.

    

68. Take a candle-lit bath.

    

69. Clean out a messy drawer.

    

70. Take a day trip.

    

71. Try making home-made candles or soap.

    

72. Run in place.

    

73. Do some jumping jacks.

    

74. Start a reward fund - put away the amount you spend on smokes every day and use it to treat yourself once in awhile.

    

75. Write a poem.

    

76. Go antique shopping.

    

77. Go plant a flower for every negative thought.

    

78. Go to church/talk to God.

    

79. Let your husband cook supper for you.

    

80. Call your Grandmother!

    

81. Paint a room.

    

82. Eat a hot fudge sundae.

    

83. Go play mini-golf.

    

84. Clean the basement or garage.

    

85. Wax the car.

    

86. Make love with your significant other.

    

87. Scrub the floor.

    

88. Treat yourself to a massage.

    

89. Chop up some veggies for a stir-fry - keep your hands busy!

    

90. Clean out the litter box.

    

91. Check your car's tire pressure.

    

92. Call a radio show and request a song.

    

93. Go ride a few rollercoasters.

    

94. Take a walk in nature.

    

95. Watch the sun set.

    

96. Write a goodbye letter to cigarettes

    

97. Donate blood.

    

98. Color your hair.

    

99. Make a greeting card.

    

100. Write a list of things you are grateful for

   
  
12 Comments
dodge315
Member

Thank God you waited until AFTER my final exams to post this list 🙂  Now I can't wait to get started.

Mothergoose9
Member

Some excellent ideas suggested here!!!!!  Thanks for reposting it Maggie!

aztec
Member

Thanks maggie excellent list, I saved it to re post again, wow

love Aztec

Thomas3.20.2010

Thanks, Maggie! I'm sure it will help a lot of folks!

5zmhockey
Member

Thanks Maggie i love this list,

dodge315
Member

Yay, just did number 73, but then I followed it with number 82.

maggie_8-1-2010

LOL @ Dodge!!!

marysela
Member

Thanks Maggie, I need it to read that right this second, I am sitting on the fence right now,... it's been 11 and some hours for me.... Oh God I want to go to sleep and wake up in about 15days and be free of nicitine >>>> but I know that is not possible , I have to go thrue the pain..... any sugestions are very welcome as I enter my sencond day

 

 

thanks a bunch for being there for me

 

Marysela

Brenda-T.
Member

Thanks Maggie,

     This is just what I needed.  I am going to print it out and read it everyday.  Lots of good ideas. Brenda

janetlynn
Member

Love the list! Putting it on my fridg! Thanks!

gdemmitt
Member

thank you i am going try some of this

lstamus
Member

Thanks for thislist a marvelous things to do. So many interesting ones andnew one to try out. I needed some variety to keep me on track and now I have it. Keep up the great list andmaybe peole will keep adding to the list---like the never ending list. Thanks maggie. Lstamus