Breaking a habit requires accepting that there is a habit and then figuring out why you have one.
Knowing the reasons why you have a habit will allow you to devise methods of dealing with the reasons.
It goes without saying that the reason we started smoking is far removed from why we continue to smoke.
Situations play a huge part in reasons why we want to smoke.
Situations like driving, or having a social drink, being surrounded by other smokers who engage in the activity of smoking, etc.
I for one began smoking for social reasons.
I worked in an environment where 80 percent of the employees smoked during our breaks and at lunch.
Therefore in an effort to sort of 'fit in' I succumbed to the habit as well.
First it was one or two cigarettes a day that I would bum from a coworker.
Before long it was 5, 6 or more and through the course of a few months I started buying packs of my own.
You can figure out the rest.
The nicotine took hold and my addiction to smoking was a regular part of my life.
Now a days, 15 years later, with all of the changes in attitude and laws being crafted to make smoking not as socially acceptable for those my age, it's obvious that social reasons are the furthest thing from my mind.
Smoking cigarettes now is simply a means of calming the sometimes overwhelming cravings for nicotine.
So why do we continue to smoke? Next time you light up, think about why it is that you're doing it.
Is it because you just ate, or you are driving? Are you stressed, angry or anxious about something? It's important to be honest with yourself and answer the question.
The habit of smoking cannot be overcome without first figuring out what the habit actually is.
Smoking is a habit indeed, however the habit of smoking is always triggered by a stimulus.
Once you figure out the triggers that cause you to light up you can begin to break the cycle and soon break the habit.
Refraining from smoking in situations or when faced with emotions that trigger the need to smoke is key to breaking the habit of smoking.
Start by delaying the lighting up for a few minutes and work your way up to not lighting up at all.
Reacting to situations or emotions simply feeds the habit, delaying the reaction, or eliminating it gives you control over the habit of smoking.
The desire to smoke is a triggered reaction.
By interrupting the trigger and reaction by delaying or completely eliminating the act of smoking you can get that much closer to kicking the habit and quitting smoking for good.
Knowing the reasons why you have a habit will allow you to devise methods of dealing with the reasons.
It goes without saying that the reason we started smoking is far removed from why we continue to smoke.
Situations play a huge part in reasons why we want to smoke.
Situations like driving, or having a social drink, being surrounded by other smokers who engage in the activity of smoking, etc.
I for one began smoking for social reasons.
I worked in an environment where 80 percent of the employees smoked during our breaks and at lunch.
Therefore in an effort to sort of 'fit in' I succumbed to the habit as well.
First it was one or two cigarettes a day that I would bum from a coworker.
Before long it was 5, 6 or more and through the course of a few months I started buying packs of my own.
You can figure out the rest.
The nicotine took hold and my addiction to smoking was a regular part of my life.
Now a days, 15 years later, with all of the changes in attitude and laws being crafted to make smoking not as socially acceptable for those my age, it's obvious that social reasons are the furthest thing from my mind.
Smoking cigarettes now is simply a means of calming the sometimes overwhelming cravings for nicotine.
So why do we continue to smoke? Next time you light up, think about why it is that you're doing it.
Is it because you just ate, or you are driving? Are you stressed, angry or anxious about something? It's important to be honest with yourself and answer the question.
The habit of smoking cannot be overcome without first figuring out what the habit actually is.
Smoking is a habit indeed, however the habit of smoking is always triggered by a stimulus.
Once you figure out the triggers that cause you to light up you can begin to break the cycle and soon break the habit.
Refraining from smoking in situations or when faced with emotions that trigger the need to smoke is key to breaking the habit of smoking.
Start by delaying the lighting up for a few minutes and work your way up to not lighting up at all.
Reacting to situations or emotions simply feeds the habit, delaying the reaction, or eliminating it gives you control over the habit of smoking.
The desire to smoke is a triggered reaction.
By interrupting the trigger and reaction by delaying or completely eliminating the act of smoking you can get that much closer to kicking the habit and quitting smoking for good.