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Today actually feels like the longest day I’ve ever been alive. I’m on Day 3 and unfortunately I’m off from work today so I’m home and bored. I’ve done yoga, cleaned, laundry, raked leaves (it’s 40 degrees outside). I’ve planned dinner, napped, read and it is not even 1pm. I was gonna go to trails by me to hike but i just don’t trust myself at the moment to be driving around. Can anyone else relate to these never ending days? How do you fill the empty space?
Thank you so much for your response Carl. Such great ideas. I haven’t tried a puzzle yet. I love puzzles!!! I’m sure each day is going to be different. Some will be good, some not so good. It’s great to know I’m not alone. 
Congrats on day 3. I know I just had to keep constantly busy, so I understand. You can just go for a short walk. I would do that often when I had a craving--just walk out the door and go a few blocks. It really helps to refocus. I still play video games. You can get lost in them and don't believe how much time has passed. And of course spending time on the Ex, posting/reading really helps, especially in the early days. You're doing great!
Barb
Thank you Barb. If only Candy Crush would give me more then 5 lives at a time. Ha. I have been trying to walk and exercise. I’ve done yoga every morning and walking at night with my husband. He doesn’t know I quit smoking yet. Or at least he hasn’t said anything. I’m gonna wait til he figures it out.
YES! I know the LOOOOOOOOooong day feeling!
We will make it!!
Yes, I find the days long too. I've taken up crocheting and painting, but I have a short attention span right now, so I always listen to music every day, it gets me motivated. You could always go to your local library and pick up some books to read. There are so many things to do, instead of smoke. I feel like time stands still for me some days, and I am a clock watcher. you could go out and get some word search books, or suduko, or crosswords, or bring in some puzzles to pass the time, or take up a new hobby, something you've always wanted to do.
You could walk or go out for a car ride. Sometimes that breaks things up. You could take up searching for new recipes to try. I have cleaned today, and listened to music, and talked to my daughter too. I find always thinking about what I'm going to do next helps.
Thank you for all the suggestions. Such great ideas. Cooking is a good one. I do like to try out new recipes for my family. The clock really does stand still sometimes. I’m trying not to watch it right now. I’m sure eventually this will stop and time will just be normal again. Thanks again. Really appreciate all the support.
Welcome to the community!
Congratulations on your decision to quit smoking and your first two (almost THREE!) days. I SO remember the long days you describe. I will give you lots of homework to help fill the time!
The important thing you can do right now is to educate yourself on what nicotine does to your body and mind. To that end, I highly recommend Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking.” This easy and entertaining read provided a world of good information about nicotine addiction, most of which I was not aware. I credit it in large part with my success at quitting. You can search for it online or at your local library.
You should also read the posts here and perhaps go to the pages of folks who you think might be helpful. You might visit whyquit.com, quitsmoking.com and livewell.com for the good information contained there. @https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/best-of-ex has lots of blogs written by members of this site with their experiences and guidance. Here is a video to inform you further about nicotine addiction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpWMgPHn0Lo&feature=youtu.be.
After you have completed the recommended reading, it will be time to make an informed choice of the quit aid, if any, you will use. If you go that route, I personally recommend the aids that don't let the addict control the dose such as the available prescription drugs or the patch. If used properly, gum, lozenges and inhalers are fine, but they need to be used only as a last resort after you have tried to delay and distract. I have seen folks become addicted to them if they substitute them for every cigarette they used to smoke - just trading one addiction for another. You need to start out with a plan to reduce use of them over time - which the patch does by decreasing the dose contained in them.. For the gum, you can start by cutting each piece in half, then in quarters, then sub regular gum of the same flavor in between, adding more and more regular gum. For the lozenge, you need to start subbing a mint in between to begin, increasing the number of them over time. I do not recommend the e-cigarette for four reasons: 1) the vapor has been compared to the polluted air in Bejing on a bad day, 2) they just provide another nicotine delivery system while continuing the hand to mouth smoking motion, 3) it maintains the addiction to nicotine, and 4) they are proving to be unsafe.
The idea is to change up your routines so the smoking associations are reduced. Drink your coffee with your OTHER hand in a place different from when you smoked. Maybe switch to tea for a bit. If you always had that first smoke with your coffee, try putting your tennies on right out of bed, going for a quick walk, then taking your shower and THEN your coffee! Rearrange the furniture in the areas you used to smoke so the view is different. Buy your gas at a different station. Take a different route to work. Take a quick walk at break time where the smokers AREN'T.
You need to distract yourself through any craves. You can take a bite out of a lemon (yup - rind and all), put your head in the freezer and take a deep breath of cold air, do a few jumping jacks, go for a brisk walk or march in place, play a computer game. Keep a cold bottle of water with you from which to sip. Don't let that smoking thought rattle around in your brain unchallenged. Sometimes you need to quit a minute or an hour at a time. You will need to be disciplined in the early days to distract yourself when a crave hits. Get busy! Here is a link to a list of things to do instead of smoke if you need some fresh ideas:
https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/02/25/100-things-to-do-instead-of-smoke
The conversation in your head in response to the "I want a cigarette" thought needs to be, "Well, since I have decided not to do that anymore, what shall I do instead for the three minutes this crave will last?" Then DO it. You will need to put some effort into this in the early days, but it gets easier and easier to do.
Stay close to us here and ask questions when you have them and for support when you need it. We will be with you every step of the way!
Nancy
Yes, I can relate! One step then another is often the best anyone can do for the first days of quitting.
Congratulations on your 3 days!!! Yes you can.
My house was so clean after I quit smoking, I wish I had been able to hold on to that energy. I played games on my computer, I spent so much time on EX that it became my go to if I was bored or felt like I was losing my mind. I always found someone I could relate to here. It really does get better. I told EVERYONE that I had quit because I wanted them to support me and I also wanted them to understand if I was a little more weird than usual.
Ellen
Thank you!! I feel like I’m going thru the motions but not really getting much accomplished. I feel lazy and sluggish. I want that cleaning bug back. I love to clean so this is strange for me. I’m Just feeling a bit outta wack right now. This feeling is scaring me a bit. Just keep breathing deeply
It is perfectly natural to feel out of whack in the early days of a quit. Your body is doing a LOT of adjusting, mentally and physically, to the lack of a drug it has been used to getting. We all went through it - all a bit differently - but we all went through it.
Just hang in there - don't let it concern you. Deep breathing is a great idea! So is sipping on lots of water to help your body detox. Get through this part of your quit the best you can. Just persevere. It WILL get better!
Nancy
BREATHE in that clean air, go somewhere that smoking is not allowed...there are more of them than places that it IS allowed. Library, mall, movies...even many parks don’t allow smoking. I am not a fan of cleaning but l sure do like the results.
It WILL get easier & the days WILL fill up again.
Ellen
Indeed, can relate to.
In such situation, good to remind...would have smoked a few cigarettes otherwise, burning self.
Engage in physical activity, walking, as you said trail, hike, yoga etc. Still feeling that time is not passing, go to your good friend, have gossip, watch good movie.
Slowly, you will get adjusted to such situations.
All the best !
Thank you!!!
Some great advice above me...I remember feeling this way because I don’t work out of the house and I came here and helped others in their journey when I had open spaces and didn’t know what to do with myself...there is always something to do other than smoke...that awful Demon wants you back and you are proving to him...he can go away...keep that beautiful quit going...Happy Hump Day ~ Colleen 450 DOF
I know you said you've been doing deep breathing--and that is great-- but looking at an imge such as this to "time" that breathing has been helpful to me.
Also if I am craving a cigarette, holding two fingers to my lips as I inhale and then moving them to exhale simulate our smoking behavior and can also be helpful.
You are going great; stick with it!!
Wow I really like that. Thank you.
Give it a try and let me know how it goes for you~ ok?
Congrats on 3 days. You should be shouting for joy. WTG! Say Yes I made it. Keep it going.
Congrats on making it past three days! You're on the right track. The key is to stay busy and change activities often. Your list of what you accomplished by 1 pm is hysterical. Keep up the good work.
As long as the empty space isn't between your ears, you're okay! lo Oragami can help keeps your hands active as well as your mind. Here's a flower I made. It's really easy and fun. HOW TO MAKE ORIGAMI FLOWERS - EASY ORIGAMI FOR BEGINNERS - YouTube You don't need special paper, just a scissor and some glue.
Or make some fish: Paper Crafts for Kids - Easy Paper Fish Crafts DIY Tutorial - YouTube
Or, how 'bout doing something with those bottles you intend to recycle... DIY-Paper flowers Guldasta made with Empty Plastic bottles|Paper ka Guldasta Banane ka Tarika - YouTube
Then again - you could always just go to sleep for the rest of the day! HA. Hang in. It'll get easier. Promise.
DeniseL920 I can definitely relate. You're doing great at 3 days. This is the time you need to be the strongest. I went from working 40 plus hours a week to 2 weeks in the hospital to never working again. I was bored The only time I left the house was for doctors appointments.
I knew of no websites like this for my first 3 months. I must have watched every western movie made. I always had music playing or I was reading. I put puzzles together I taught myself the harmonica. I tried to stay busy. Find something new you can fill you extra free time with. Read and learn as much as you can on nicotine addiction Keeping posting your journey here Reply to those who you can help or encourage
You can do this
Carl