Stop Smoking Resources
How Telling Others Will Help You Quit Smoking
Telling yourself that you are ready to quit is an important step. But let's be honest: How many times have you made a New Year's resolution, only to break it by mid-January? And how many times have you started a diet, only to sneak in chocolate cake late at night, when no one's looking?
Breaking an addiction is hard work, and you're going to be tempted to cheat. That's why one of the smartest things you can do when you're ready to quit is to tell everyone you know about your decision.
There is one good thing about letting others know about decision to quit. It makes you more accountable. It lessens down your chances of taking a sneak puff. Having people who support you all around you, keeps you distracted from that great pull. And believe me it is a lot easier to stick to promises made in public than to keep promises made in private.
Tell your friends. Tell your family. Tell your coworkers—even tell your boss! It's all right for you to be straightforward with them. Say that you want to quit, but that you know it's going to be hard and you'll need their support.
Explain to everyone that you've decided to give up your cigarette habit for good, and let them know that you are eager for them to help you. Ask them to keep you honest. That way, if they see you trying to sneak a puff on your lunch break they'll intervene and keep you from lighting up. If they notice a pack of cigarettes lying on your dresser they'll encourage you to throw it away.
You can even go one step further and write up a "quit smoking contract" for yourself. Sign it and hang it in a prominent place, such as your office cubicle or the fridge door. Let others see it and read it so that they know how serious you are. I have a quit smoking contract available for you to print and use if you wish. Just go to my web site at http://free-stop-smoking-guide.com and download the free guide, scroll to the last page of the manual and print out the contract. Hey, it helps, I used it and I know many others who have as well.
Why is telling others such a great strategy? Well, no one likes to let others down. No one likes to be seen as failing to do what you've promised to do. In this case, being judged by others is actually a good thing: the more pressure you feel to live up to your decision, the likelier that you are actually going to quit successfully.
Suggestion: It is a good idea if you can get one or two others to quit smoking with you. Quitting smoking is a lot like loosing weight, so it is best if it can be done in small groups. If your partner also smokes then it's a wonderful thing for both of you to take the decision to together so that you can go on backing and encouraging each other..
|
