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I Give Up Smoking

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How My Bad Habit Started

At a really young age, I already started my bad habit by imitating the adult, by taking a pen and pretending that it was a cigarette. I did also once take my father's cigarette without him knowing just to try it out. I didn't inhale, as it was just for fun. I did get caught and was scolded by my parent afterward. They told me that smoking is bad but looking at people around me which half of them do smoke, it tell me otherwise.

As I grow a bit older, I went to an all-boys boarding school. I was surprised at first by the notion that students around my age do smokes. I did try to resist but peer pressure takes the toll on me. We manage to hide the habit from our teachers very well during that time. We usually hide it under the bed mattress, behind the toilet tank and even inside a hollowed book. Although the consequences of getting caught are very severe and students do get caught sometimes, still it didn't stop me from continuing the habit.

As I continued my studies through university, I gain more freedom. Although smoking is prohibited in the campus zone and around academic block but still you will see people smoking. This is especially true around hostels area since there seldom have checks from the University's officials.

I continued with my habits throughout my studies years until I started working. As I grow older the habits gotten worst and from around 2 cigarettes a day to 2 packs a day which depends on the situation. Although with the government effort such as campaign, price increase annually, advice from friends and families, it still have no affect on my smoking habit.

I'm Curious to Know
This Habit is Taking Over My Life
Books on Quit Smoking
Why did I stop
Things That Trigger My Smoking Habits
Great Gift Ideas For Someone You Know
My Plan on Staying a Quitter
My Update
When is the worst time that you came very close to relapsing?
My Lenses

I'm Curious to Know

I believe everyone here else aswell

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This Habit is Taking Over My Life

I take roughly 5 min to finish off a cigarette and usually it isn't enough. Sometimes I can go through 3 to 4 cigarettes straight and maybe more depending on the conditions. I can go for 2 or 3 sticks after lunch and a pack of 20s if I'm hanging out with friends after works at evening.

In the morning, I always smoke after waking up, just right before getting in the bathroom. 1 more after breakfast while having a coffee and reading the newspaper. As I drive my car to work, I usually smoke 2 to 3 cigarettes while driving, especially during traffic jam. I also take another one before I start my work day.

Meanwhile in the Afternoon, I grab a smoke before going out for lunch and another right before coming back into my office building. After the time I came back from lunch and until time to go back, I will have a few cigarette breaks which depend on my stress level. In a good day, I probably take 2 or 3 cigarettes but during stressful day it can go up to 5 cigarettes.

On the evening while at home I don't smoke very much unless I go out. I usually smoke the most when just hanging with friend at a coffee shops, lighting one after another. I sometimes amaze myself on how many cigarettes I can smoke as I look into the empty pack of 20 that I just bought a few hours ago.

I always try to squeeze in time for a puff no matter where I am, when the habit kicks in. Imagine all the time I wasted just to commit to this habit and this has been basically the routine of my everyday life. This habit is taking over my life and I hate it.

Books on Quit Smoking

You have to start somewhere

Why did I stop

Why You should to

1. A pack of cigarette isn't that cheap, with the government increasing the price annually as to prevent younger people to start smoking. A pack of 20s famous brands has the same price for lunch. To make matter worst, I usually have more than 1 pack at a time and keep in different places in case of emergencies. I don't want to do the calculation but that's a lot of money, which literally just burn in smokes.

2.The bad obnoxious smell. My breath, my hands and my hair smells like cigarette and nothing will clear it totally. I usually put on perfume before going to work but it won't last a day. When I arrive home, I'll be overwhelm with the smells and it get on everything that I'm close to. I tried using anti tobacco fragrant in the house and in my car but don't really work well. The worst smell is that when you get wet, it's really an obnoxious smell. Come to think of it I should feel ashamed by having such a bad smell and having it around people.

3.Health is one of the really important reasons. I don't think there is anyone that doesn't know about the health hazard, it's on media from TV to the internet. Smoking is like one of the major contribution to all of the major health risk. No to forget smokers also give health hazard to others especially the second hand smokers. Medical bill is not that cheap either and even the health insurance companies will charge extra for smokers.

4.Don't want to disappoint my loved one. As your loved one, it's hard for them to see someone having a bad habit and not to feel sorry for you. I really don't like people who care about me to feel sad and burden them with that feeling.

5.Last but not least, because I can. I hate the feeling of not in control of my life and doing something I don't want to, day after day. I have to spend my money, time and risk my health but nothing good I get in return. It's like a totally fail investment scheme and you don't even need a financial adviser to tell you that. If you ask a lot of smoker would they want to quit, a lot of them say yes but why they still continue? I don't blame them, as I was from one of them since my bad habit has a control over me. Not anymore and I intend to fight back since this is my life.

Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Things That Trigger My Smoking Habits

It certainly can make me come close to a relapse

Certain time I do crave for them and it's seemed to be trigged from the same usual stuff.

1. Around 1 or 2 hours before going back home from work. When I stop smoking I have more time and focus on my work so I manage to deliver task earlier. The feeling of accomplishment which is always related with getting reward and smoking seems to be something I crave for. With a few hours of spare time before you can get back, it's really a challenge.

2. One of the thing that make really feel like relapsing is when I'm in stress. No matter where I get the stress from I feel it can be reduce by smoking. I know smoking won't solve the problem but somehow it stuck on my mind.

3. Getting stuck in a traffic jam. I guess it's a combination of stress and getting bored. I also do have the most urges when I'm bored or have spare time on my hand. This trigger can be also linked back to no.1 on this list.

4. Hanging out with friends as some of my friends do smoke. Sitting around them and looking at them smoking tempting me to have a puff as well. Especially at the coffee shops where the surrounding is full with people who are smoking cigarettes and enjoying themselves.

Image: scottchan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Great Gift Ideas For Someone You Know

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My Plan on Staying a Quitter

Never thought the word "Quitter" can be a positive thing.

To be successful in something we need an objective and for me is to stay a quitter. I also need a plan on how to achieve it.

1. Well I noticed during the early 90's we are surrounded by people who smoke. Back then it was cool, remember those cowboys sitting around a fire camps smoking their cigarettes? Now I will start tobrainwash myself, telling that smoking is not cool and I should quit it. With those really obnoxious smell, having your teeth with cigarette stains is not cool. This is done by putting in my head all of the things that I don't like about smoking and emphasizing on it day after day to make it a stronger impression.

2. Take on a sport or a hobby to take away the boredom. I have pickup cycling, jungle tracking and badminton which really filled up my time productively. Also I take my extra time learning on writing and making an income out of it. It really not that hard but I used to think otherwise as well. Getting into something enjoying and fun while getting a positive output will make you want to do it. You just need to start.

3. Remove smoking from my reward system. As I keep on brainwashing myself about smoking bad and negative effects it will make me want to change the reward to something else. Maybe treat myself to a movie or buy me a give. Sharing your achievement to someone who really cares works to. Getting feedback from the people who love you, saying you did a good job is a truly satisfying thing.

4. Making this blog is one of the things that I believe can help me stay a quitter. Announcing it to the world and having this blog up it's like a reminder that I should stay a quitter. While I hope my experience can help someone else, that thinking also put a responsibility on me to stay a quitter. I also notice that by writing down, it really helped me to point out something I don't know before. I never know that I associate smoking with rewarding myself and now it seem clear to me. With this information I can write down a plan to counter it.

My Update

28/02/2012 - Still going strong.

Image: Michal Marcol / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

When is the worst time that you came very close to relapsing?

Thank you for sharing and good luck on your way to become a quitter!

Reply

InspirationbyDmarie Mar 20, 2012 @ 11:33 am | delete

I smoked all my life. Attempted quitting many times. Recently quit with the help of chantix and PRAYER!! Today is all about living a healthy life and setting a better example to those around me :)

Reply

mantele11 Mar 17, 2012 @ 1:17 pm | delete

I haven't smoked still and I'm so happy. And I'm sure that I won't smoke in future :). It is the worst habit I think. Thumbs up!

Reply

VKumar Jan 22, 2012 @ 6:12 am | delete

It is not easy to keep it off, but with good will power, one can always do it. Thanks for a very inspiring Lens.

Reply

NightMagic Nov 13, 2011 @ 10:33 pm | delete

Good lens. I'm still smoking but your lens reminded me I really need to put a lot of effort into quitting especially for health reasons.

Reply

karmicchristian Oct 29, 2011 @ 6:51 am | delete

Thanks for this inspiring message. A couple of years back I did quit smoking for a year and again restarted it! Time to give up again I guess. Thanks for the reminder! :)