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Share your quitting journey

Things to do instead of smoking

maggie_8-1-2010
0 13 358

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

13 Comments
steph1811
Member

love this blog!     🙂

EllenMT
Member

LOVE IT! You are da bomb Maggie, and how appropriate with Thing 1 and Thing 2!

Thomas3.20.2010

101. Tell all my BecomeanEx Friends how special they are - beginning with Maggie! You Rock! Have a Great Smoke FREE Weekend!

c2q
Member

This is great! I hope people do keep adding to your list.

102. join a bridge club, or garden club

103. Become a Big Brother or Big Sister

104. Play word games

maggie_8-1-2010

Awesome - keep em coming!

newlife5
Member

how about try taking pictures of yourself using your phone camera.... its not easy.. but i seen some teenagers doing it and it looked fun.. it took them about 30 min . before they got one they liked... lol... part of being a kid again...i guess theres really no excuse for boredom with this post.... thanks maggie

zinamarie
Member

Is there anyway you can email me that list so I can print it out?  I don't know how to print one blog.  Maggie, you are amazing.  All the pictures, all the encouragement, you are a true blessing to all of us.  Protect the QUIT!

Strudel
Member
Nice list Maggie!
maynell
Member

Be Happy

lynette9
Member

105. Send Maggie an email telling her how cool she is!

Thanks Maggie!!! For everything!!!!

amby2
Member

I got down the list as far as jigzone and loved it... very fun and distracting when you wnat to smoke. Great job with your list! I can't wait to explore more. my goal with quitting is to keep my hands busy in a positive way and that was perfect. thank you!

Ready2021
Member

Lol so far i have done quite a lot on this list since quit day this was so helpful thanks so much!!!

blondie56
Member

Thank you for all the ideas. I know this list of ideas will help me tremendously.