The worst part of quitting bad habits is that you have to motivate yourself all day. Good habits are easy. Get up now and go work out. 30 minutes. That's all. Then you're done for the day and you can go back to doing whatever. But bad habits. Well, I guess you could sleep your life away but that seems rather counter-productive.
There is really only one solution to breaking bad habits and that is filling your life with so many good habits you don't have time for the bad ones. Easier said than done, I know. Good habits don't reap as many 'instant gratification' rewards as bad habits do. Good habits aren't as pleasing, aren't as comforting as bad ones.
Then when you slip up. There is always that guilt that drives you to bad habits to make you feel better. It's a vicious cycle.
If anyone knows bad habits it's me. I have a million of them. Some of them are so ingrained in my psyche that without them I feel empty or nervous or not all together me!
I have been smoking for 14 years. I have specified pockets to keep my cigarettes and lighter and if I were to leave the house without them I would feel lost like going out without my pants on. If I am stuck at work and running low on cigarettes I loose focus, thinking about how to get to the store to get more cigarettes. And then, to make matters worse, the stress of running out of cigarettes makes me smoke more (stupid, I know but addiction isn't logical).
Maybe there isn't a simple solution to becoming healthy and happy. Some people may tell you there is but have they seen life from your perspective? And if so, how long ago? Cause they may have forgotten. I think the only solution is taking one day at a time, one step at a time to get over that mountain.
Life is a journey, whether walking into glory or crawling out of the pit of addiction, your moving forward and that's the key. That is life.
I quit for almost three years then going out on the road fucked that all up for me. then I went about a month and a half, then hanging out with one of my smoking friends... oh yeah.. fucked up again...
ReplyDeleteWas all ready to go back into no smoking mode and a buddy of mine sent me a carton.
Quitting smoking is easy... it's staying quit that's a bitch... I'm going to get one of those electric cigs and give it a shot....
Some people really enjoy smoking more than others do. My husband loved it. It was very hard for him to quit. After 15 years, he still misses it. I quit cold turkey about 30 years ago after 8 years of smoking. No biggie. Sometimes when I am drinking and with people who smoke, I'll have one. Or possibly more in an evening. And that's it for another year or 5. It just doesn't seem to grab me like it does others. On the other hand, good habits are impossible for me to add. I've tried working out - pushed myself 3-4 times a week for over a year on at least 3 separate occasions - and hated every minute.
ReplyDeleteI bought that electronic cigarette. I think the major problem I had with it is this: each filter or cartridge is equal to a pack of smokes. Unfortunately, if your not paying attention you can smoke an entire filter in an hour or two. You have to set time limits on it or something, IDK. Orginally, the electronic cigarette was not designed to help you quit but was intended for smokers who needed to smoke in areas where smoking was illegal or inappropriate.
ReplyDeleteI think you are on the right track, one day at a time, don't give up, hang in there! We all have our issues some are more visible than others, so go easy on yourself! You are only human!
ReplyDeleteBeing on the right track means there is somewhere to go. Maybe I am already there? LOL. I don't know, but thank you for the encouragement.
ReplyDeleteJeannie,
ReplyDeleteThere was a time I enjoyed smoking but like anything done in excess it seems to lose it's appeal. Currently, I hate smoking but then again I hate not smoking. It's a no win situation.