"I don't feel motivated, and I don't have the willpower to stay smoke-free."
If you chose this box, you probably:
- Are not 100% committed to the idea of quitting smoking.
- Need to reassure yourself of your reasons for wanting to quit
- Need to get more information on reasons to quit.
- Need to have hard evidence of the benefits of quitting before you find the willpower to quit and stay quit.
These are some tips that helped people like you quit:
- Indulge Yourself: While breaking the habit, be good to yourself in every other way. Even indulge yourself a little-- a special treat on weekends (good meal, show, etc.) with the money you saved.
- "I started a Christmas Savings Account with the money I was saving. At two and a half packs a day, this adds up--but fast. It gave me a real incentive to keep going."
- Another ex-smoker said: "My approach was to concern myself only with today--tomorrow would take care of itself! My long range objective was to get through each day without smoking. My short range objective was to overcome every urge to smoke during the day. At the end of the day I would make a notation on a card indicating my success. I believe it was keeping my goal limited and clearly within view that was the greatest help to me."
- Change your thoughts about cigarettes. This will be the biggest help of all. Like, "I don't want to smoke anymore."
- Every time I lit up I immediately created in my mind's eye a picture of all the cigarettes I had ever smoked--reaching to California. I said to myself, "Here I am, puffing at this end and I've got to smoke the whole thing down." This thought became so repulsive that I became so disgusted with myself that I finally stopped.
- The trick of tricks is to find the right personal incentive. To this we can return whenever we falter. There was always something wrong with my reasons for stopping in the past. My reason can now be told though perhaps in some cases it must remain a very private affair. I am simply doing what my doctor advises. Very unusual!
- I just convinced myself that nothing would control me unless I wanted it to.
- Make up a short list of luxuries you have wanted or items you would like to purchase for a loved one. Next to each item write down the cost. Now convert the cost to packs of cigarettes. If you save the money each day from packs of cigarettes, you will be able to purchase these items. Use a special piggy bank for saving your money, or start a "Christmas Club" account at your bank.
- Bet with someone that you can quit. Put the cigarette money in a jar each morning and forfeit it if you smoke. You keep the money if you don't smoke by the end of the week. Try to extend this period to a month.
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