Day 3 - New Thinking - Más estrategias!

Shift Your Thinking

When you're quitting, sometimes it's not easy to think about all the days and weeks ahead of you without cigarettes. They've been a part of your life for a while. So even when you know all the benefits of quitting, it might be hard to think that far ahead. That's why we want you to think short term. One day at a time. Think to yourself, "I just have to stay smoke-free right now." And don't worry. We're here to help you.

Your only task for today

When you get up each morning, you have just one task for the day. Your task is to stay away from cigarettes until you go to bed that night. But you might need some help getting there. You might need a few distractions. And they may be closer than you think.

This is an activity to help you use the ordinary objects all around you to distract yourself from the urge to smoke.

Why?

You're in an incredible phase in your life that you'll probably remember for years to come: You're giving up cigarettes. And taking that challenge moment by moment could be an effective way to succeed. Think of those moments as building blocks. Getting through 5 minutes can lead to getting through one day. One day can lead to a week, which can lead to a month. There are short-term solutions that can generate long-term results.

Research tells us that an urge to smoke may last only about 5 minutes. If you can get through 5 minutes after you feel the urge, the worst is probably over. Here are a few ways you can use the ordinary objects all around you to distract yourself from an urge, right when you start to feel it.

Distractions at work

The ordinary object	How to distract yourself
Your desk	If you're near your desk when an urge comes on, take a look at it. Organize the drawers. Clean the top. Throw away pens that don't work. Cleaning up your clutter can be distracting and productive.
A computer	If it's allowed where you work, play computer games. Many computers have simple games like solitaire. Playing a hand or two could get you past that immediate urge.

Distractions at home

The ordinary object	How to distract yourself
An orange and a glass of water	You might enjoy a glass of water if you squeeze a lemon, lime, or orange into it. There's something refreshing about that citrus taste. And it might make a cigarette less appealing.
The phone	Call a friend and make a plan to get together. Or call a movie schedule hotline and find the showtimes for a movie in your area. A good comedy tonight could be something to look forward to, and a fun two-hour distraction.
A stamp	Write a note to somebody who's important to you, and send it today. It doesn't have to be long. A quick note can keep you in touch and keep you occupied until that urge is gone.

Distractions anywhere

The ordinary object	How to distract yourself
Your cell phone	Go through the numbers programmed into your cell phone. Do you have a few in there that are old or duplicates? Is there a better way to organize the numbers to put the people you call most at the top of the list?
Your wallet	Even though we use our wallets every day, sometimes we hardly notice what's inside. See if you have charge cards or business cards in your wallet that you don't need anymore, or that you can keep somewhere else.
Your legs	We're not talking about a marathon, but a brisk walk or a little light exercise might help you stop thinking about smoking. And when you get back, you'll probably feel a lot healthier than you would after a cigarette. (Please be sure to consult your doctor before taking on a new physical activity.)

Of course, this is hardly a complete list. You probably have lots of things within arm's reach right now that could also help. The important thing to remember is that, wherever you are, look around. You have the tools you need to distract yourself and get past that next urge.