Give and get support around quitting
I have decided to quit on April 9. I am just introducing myself and seeing who is out there. I am working on my profile with what little free time I have. The biggest question I have now is to those with high stress jobs. Are there any suggestions you may have? I love my work but it goes 7 days a week, damn long hours and extreme stress. I await replies and yes, I am working hard on this. I am trying to make up my mind to overcome this crutch I've had for years but am always open to suggestions.
M
Find ways to relieve the stress other than smoking. That takes a certain amount of discovery work. Change your focus by getting up, walking around, deep breathing, getting a drink of water, playing a quick computer game, calling a friend, studying relaxation techniques, a 5 minute meditation, Greek worry beads... - experimenting with your own creativity - discovering through trial and error what works and what doesn't. Stress is a part of life and it's not going to go away. But there are many, many ways of dealing with stress other than putting a cigarette in your mouth. It's up to you to discover what that may be for you. That's part of the fun of this process. Discovery. Stick around!
Good for you for realizing that there's never going to be a "good time to quit smoking. And don't believe the myth that smoking is a stress- reducer; actually it increases your stress, I am the parent of an adult on the autism spectrum. Family caregiving can be a source of chronic stress. Some things I've done to help me deal: exercise (anything from walking to yoga to strenuous workouts in the gym); music (listening to it and playing); turning off the TV, and limiting my news watching; cutting out the junk food and fast food. The suggestions Giulia gave you are also excellent. I would also suggest that you try to recall times in your life when you did not smoke and you got through a difficult situation. You may have to reach back to your childhood to find them, but you most likely have done it.
I have tried it many times butwithuot success. but i wil not give up trying until i get success.