Hi CS........Yep I agree distraction is a big element. I don't care how many times I change tasks during the day. I do anything else except smoke.....ANYTHING....I find changing tasks and activities OFTEN the best way to go for me.
I avoid being tough on myself in anyway. I've ditched the 'I have to be perfect' talk. Right from the beginning of my quit I told myself that I wasn't going to restrict myself from anything else that I like and want to do. Its tough enough as it is without feeling like I'm turning myself into a flamin monk.
I know a lot of people avoid ANYTHING which they associate with smoking, eg: smoking friends, alcohol, places where people smoke, etc etc. I didn't feel that that strategy would work for me because it would feel like I was giving up way to much all at once and the adjustment would be way to great. This works for me but I realise it does not work for everyone of course.
Possibly the most important thing though is being kind to myself. Working on any negative self talk and appreciating what a fantastic job I am doing in conquering smoking.
Each day does get better but seriously watch out for the stress events, they are the BIG tests. I now realise that there is NO reason to smoke........NONE. There is not one single reason or excuse. I realise that I cannot BLAME anything else as a reason to smoke. Including craving. I've worked out that it is a form of self punishment. If a flamin bomb went off I wouldn't reach for a cigarette now. I refuse to give my achievment away to some external force that seriously doesn't care if I smoke or not. I am the one that counts. What I think and feel about myself is the most important thing. I seriously don't care if anyone admires the the fact that I have given up smoking, if anyone cares or does not care. I am not doing this for anyone else other than myself. This is prooving to be a winner for me because the motivation is internal not external and it therefore becomes completely irrelevant what happens around me......it can't affect MY decision not to smoke.
Please excuse the long rave CS but thought I'd like to share this stuff with you today.
Congratulations CS....you are doing a seriously great thing for yourself.
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B] 9/