Tomorrow begins the New Year, 2009. Begin the year with a feeling of hope, the slate is wiped clean of efforts gone awry and NOW represents a chance to do something you have always wanted to do. This is a great time to quit smoking. What makes now different than other times? What have you learned about you and smoking that will make this time your quit time?- You have learned when you are most vulnerable to relapse so that you can avoid difficult times.
- You have learned to change your routine around times when you used to smoke.
- You have made a quit plan.
- You have the QUITline with support and medications available. 1-800-784-8669
- You will take the money you save from not buying cigarettes and spend it on something you have always wanted for yourself!
This is the Year, This is the Time. You will be able to QUIT!
Days like today bring to mind memories of snowy days past. I remember playing in the snow with my family on days like today, and shoveling snow with them on a day like today but I also remember coming inside after playing on a snowy day and having hot chocolate and curling up by my mom while she read me a story and also doing the same with my own children. I cherish these memories! I hope you are making memories like this with your children, playing outside with them, and then inside for a shared time of a game, hot chocolate with a cookie and then reading a book together. As you make these memories I encourage you to keep them smoke free memories. Almost half of children in the United States are exposed to secondhand smoke every week with another 25% are exposed to smoke in their homes. If you are still smoking remember that you can still protect your children from most of the effects of second hand smoke by not smoking in the car or your home and not allowing others to smoke there either! If you aren't quite ready to quit smoking you can still do all that is possible to protect your children and if you have quit you can do many things that will protect your children from the effects of second hand smoke by making it a rule for others not to smoke near them. You can make memories that are smoke free memories.
Holidays are wonderful and joyful but their downside is they are stressful. When smokers or former smokers are stressed they often turn to smoking to reduce the stress. What are other healthier ways to handle the stress of the busy holiday season.
Build a snowman with your children
Go Sledding or ice skating
Check out an exercise video from the library and when you want a cigarette exercise instead
Get some toothpicks or straws and play with them
Go to the bathroom or out on the porch and take some deep breaths, and try to calm your busy mind
Lie down and put yourself on a warm beach with the waves breaking and the salt air beakoning
Consiously relax your muscles, especially your neck and back muscles.
Do some yoga moves
Spend some time with sudoku
Watch a favorite show
Give yourself permission to spend a few moments alone pampering yourself
Take a bath with candles
My friend says clean the house or reorganize a room, decorate
Play a game with your child
Knit a scarf or hat
Play and punch playdough
I bet you know what helps you relax, Just give yourself permission to spend the time to take a break from your busy life.
I know you can get through this busy time without smoking! Give yourself permission to spend time on yourself. Happy Holidays
