Knowing What You Want Helps You to Stop Smoking
Quitting Involves More than Your Last Smoke Have you been thinking about quitting? Well good for you-you have already begun the quitting process.
I say "process" because giving up cigarettes is more than something you "just do" using willpower.
You need to know why you want to do it, prepare, set a quit date, quit, and maintain a smoke-free life.
Why is Motivation so Important? Quitting smoking requires effort.
Besides the initial physical withdrawal from nicotine, you have to figure out how you will relax, focus, energize, and socialize without having a smoke.
When you are feeling challenged or tempted to smoke you can remember your motivation- why you dislike smoking and your positive vision of a smoke-free life.
Motivation for change is the fuel that will: 1.
Make up your mind to quit.
It's one thing to think about changing-it's another thing to actually decide to change.
Everyone can think of reasons why smoking tobacco is bad...
and there may be many moments that you wish you could be free of the habit-but the secret to actually stopping is having solid personal reasons for wanting to quit.
2.
Propel you towards action and keep you on track.
Even if you have solid reasons for quitting, when life gets rough you need to have reminders at hand-reminders of why you have quit smoking and the benefits of the road ahead.
Harness Your Motivation To harness your motivation identify: 1.
How being smoke-free will help you get what you want out of life-this is the most important part of your motivation.
2.
Your "want to quit story" (if you have one)-something that happened to you or to someone you know that got you thinking: "I should quit".
3.
One or two things that have been turning you off about smoking.
Know What You Want Knowing how quitting will improve your life and move you towards positive goals is the most important part of motivation.
Why? Fear and repulsion can get you started, but a vision of reward is more exciting and inspiring.
Try to find some positive things you want to move towards in your life.
Don't worry if you haven't decided to quit-you don't have to force a decision.
Whether you quit or not, it will be helpful to think about what you want out of life, what you value, and how you can get there.
How to Stay Focused Once you know what you want and perhaps what you don't want, you need to remember.
Using reminders will help you stay focused.
Choose 3 to 5 key sources of motivation and write them down.
For example, write them on a card to put in your wallet, stick a reminder on the fridge, place post-it notes in strategic locations, and put a note on your bedside table.
You can also use pictures to inspire you.
It might be a picture of your child, partner, or pet-or it might be an image of the vacation that you will treat yourself to with the money you save.
Reminding yourself of what you don't want and what you really want will help you make one of the most important changes in your life.
I say "process" because giving up cigarettes is more than something you "just do" using willpower.
You need to know why you want to do it, prepare, set a quit date, quit, and maintain a smoke-free life.
Why is Motivation so Important? Quitting smoking requires effort.
Besides the initial physical withdrawal from nicotine, you have to figure out how you will relax, focus, energize, and socialize without having a smoke.
When you are feeling challenged or tempted to smoke you can remember your motivation- why you dislike smoking and your positive vision of a smoke-free life.
Motivation for change is the fuel that will: 1.
Make up your mind to quit.
It's one thing to think about changing-it's another thing to actually decide to change.
Everyone can think of reasons why smoking tobacco is bad...
and there may be many moments that you wish you could be free of the habit-but the secret to actually stopping is having solid personal reasons for wanting to quit.
2.
Propel you towards action and keep you on track.
Even if you have solid reasons for quitting, when life gets rough you need to have reminders at hand-reminders of why you have quit smoking and the benefits of the road ahead.
Harness Your Motivation To harness your motivation identify: 1.
How being smoke-free will help you get what you want out of life-this is the most important part of your motivation.
2.
Your "want to quit story" (if you have one)-something that happened to you or to someone you know that got you thinking: "I should quit".
3.
One or two things that have been turning you off about smoking.
Know What You Want Knowing how quitting will improve your life and move you towards positive goals is the most important part of motivation.
Why? Fear and repulsion can get you started, but a vision of reward is more exciting and inspiring.
Try to find some positive things you want to move towards in your life.
Don't worry if you haven't decided to quit-you don't have to force a decision.
Whether you quit or not, it will be helpful to think about what you want out of life, what you value, and how you can get there.
How to Stay Focused Once you know what you want and perhaps what you don't want, you need to remember.
Using reminders will help you stay focused.
Choose 3 to 5 key sources of motivation and write them down.
For example, write them on a card to put in your wallet, stick a reminder on the fridge, place post-it notes in strategic locations, and put a note on your bedside table.
You can also use pictures to inspire you.
It might be a picture of your child, partner, or pet-or it might be an image of the vacation that you will treat yourself to with the money you save.
Reminding yourself of what you don't want and what you really want will help you make one of the most important changes in your life.
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