Triggers, What to do?

You have studied what your triggers are and now the serious work of what to do during these difficult times. The first bit of advice is to eliminate them when possible. If drinking alcohol is a trigger for you, or going to a bar then for the first month or so after quitting it is helpful to stay away from bars. There are some reasons that alcohol and nicotine go together or at least that your brain perceives that they do so my best advice is to stay away from alcohol as much as possible for awhile.
Now there are probably some other places or activities that you almost always smoke at. This might be when you go out on a break at work, do you usually head for an outside location with your other smoking buddies to smoke. If this is the case then take a break at another location. Maybe ask a co worker that you usually smoke with if they also want to quit and you can take a walk or pursue another short activity with them. Some folks smoke every time they are in the car or when they are on the phone. Before your quit date you are going to clean the inside of your car maybe even have it detailed. This will remove everything about smoking that might strengthen this trigger. Have some cinnamon or any kind of tooth pick to play with in the car or maybe just a straw to chew on. Something oral seems to help with the hand to mouth habit that often can be reassuring to a smoker. Cinnamon has been found to be a flavor that is often helpful to quitters. Some people that smoke when on the phone have resorted to texting more or might just try to be on the phone in a different location than usual and also have some things like the tooth picks or straws to play with while on the phone. Remember that when and where you smoke is associated by the brain with smoking and when you are in the places or times it will remind you with cravings to smoke. The more you can change these the easier you will find it to quit. The more you can change up these times and places will also help with walks or physical activity being a very helpful change up.
The early morning, first thing upon waking up cigarette is a very important one for most people. This is when it is most important to change up your morning routine. A change of beverage, a change of where you drink the beverage and then a change in the routine of it. If you always have a cigarette when drinking your coffee during a relaxing time around the kitchen table then have tea or chai or even hot chocolate in a different mug sitting outside, although not where you usually smoke. What seems to help most of us is to go for a walk and have your relaxing moment smelling the roses while you drink your tea. Look at your other cigarettes that seem most important to you and change each routine so that you are relaxing or giving yourself a down moment in a way you haven't in the past. Sometimes the last cigarette in the day is really an important one or the after supper one. Make these moments so unlike the past that there will be fewer reminders that you aren't having a cigarette.
My next blog will be about the stress busters we all need more of in our hurried life style