Quit Smoking Rewards




It is easy to start smoking, but it usually takes a great effort to give up this habit. There have been invented a lot of techniques and strategies which help to quit without trouble, to do it quicker and with less stress for the smoker, however, only few people actually succeed to stop smoking for keeps. American Cancer Society recommends non-smokers to reward themselves for hard work they go through in attempt to stay quit.

One day of non-smoking is easy, but with time an ex-smoker starts feeling withdrawal symptoms. Strong will, nicotine replacement therapy, alternative medicine such as acupuncture and hypnosis, natural remedies and a number of other means help people fight these symptoms in one way or another. As a result, some smokers go through the quitting process successfully and have high chances to stay quit.

Building up a system of rewards should also be a great motive to stay away from cigarettes. First of all an x-smoker should set the first date for the reward. It might be a week or 10 days without cigarettes. If it works out well, the person should go for another date which will take more time: two weeks, one month or so.

The research made by the University of South Florida has shown that stress is the major factor that brings ex-smokers back to cigarettes. If it is so, the person should think of some stress-relieving, relaxing reward. It might be such simple thing as bubble bath, lavender candles and incense or any aroma that helps to calm down, beautiful music, watching a movie, breathing gymnastics, yoga and other relaxation techniques. Using this kind of rewards a person forgets about craving for nicotine or does not feel it as strong as used to.

Greater milestones of staying quit can be rewarded with higher prizes. It is good to think of buying something that was really wanted or dreamed for. Calculating the cost of the saved money from non-smoking will give an approximate price for this desired thing.

A great reward for quitting smoking is trying something new, something that the person could not do while being a smoker. There are a great number of activities which make the body busy and concentrated on different things than cigarettes. Some people go for yoga, hiking or jogging after they kick the habit. If the person likes adventures, mountain biking or rock climbing could be a great way to spend time, breathe fresh air and forget about smoking. While nicotine is withdrawing from all organs and blood fills back up with oxygen instead of carbon dioxide, the ex-smoker feels a burst of additional energy.

Physical activity has another benefit: during exercises the body produces endorphins, so called hormones of happiness. They help to fight withdrawal symptoms better, because endorphins reduce cravings for nicotine and relieve stress.

Choosing to breathe smoke-free air is a healthy and relatively new experience after the person decides to quit. Going to longer movies or plays in a theatre will bring more enjoyment when the ex-smoker can stay in an auditorium longer, without cravings for a cigarette. Having an opportunity to visit smoke-free restaurant or savor a cup of coffee in an outdoor café are great rewards for non-smoking life-style.

Sometimes having something to do with hands is the main problem for a quitting person. In this case, starting a new hobby which involves manual work is a great reward and benefit to deal with stress. Many ex-smokers discovered that they could spent their smoking time to something more useful: growing flowers, learning to knit or crochet, painting, working with wood or metal, discovering new features about computers, baking and many other activities alike.

Melissa Young

Related Posts

Posted on December 30, 2009 
Filed Under How to Quit Smoking, Stop Smoking, Stop Smoking News

Comments

Leave a Reply