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Quitting Smoking Timeline
You finally did it. You made the decision to stop smoking. Listen up, having a
quitting smoking timeline can be very helpful as you explore a new life free of
nicotine and cigarettes. In fact, a stop smoking timeline is an integral part of any
smoking cessation plan. It simply helps to set expectations in a way that makes
cravings manageable. How does this work?
A quitting smoking timeline helps to organize the timing of events in your plan. For
instance, the first step would be to find out what triggers your smoking behavior. So
day 1 would be preparation to quitting. The next step might be to create a list of
activities you can perform when the cravings hit. This helps to take your mind off the
cigarette. So day 2 would be spent coming up with a list of distractions.
You can see how this timeline idea works. They say a goal without a date is not a
goal, but a pipe-dream. I would piggy-back onto that idea and say a stop smoking
plan without a quitting smoking timeline is nothing more than a recipe for relapse.
You should have the plan mapped out on a calendar - quit date, activities, support
calls with phone numbers, goals, etc. The calendar should be 12 months long. If
you think you won't have any cravings in month 6 or 12 after you've quit, then you're
fooling yourself.
Quitting Smoking Timeline: Long Term View
You should have another 12 month calendar ready to go when the first year is up.
The cravings are sneaky and can strike when you least expect it. However, this
calendar may just ask the question, "Did you have any cravings today or this week?",
"What did you do to overcome them?".
You may also want to start a benefit journal which details how you feel. Tracking
your symptoms or lack of symptoms might be a good way to see the benefits of a
quit smoking timeline. For example, you may notice changes in your heart rate,
breathlessness or cough. All these symptoms follow a disease timeline, as well,
and should improve as you hit your goals and targets for cessation. There are lots of
items you can track, even the financial impact of no longer spending at least five or
six bucks on a pack of cigarettes. Take the money you would be spending on
tobacco and place it in a jar on the kitchen table. By the end of the first week, you
could have a substantial amount of money which could then be used as a reward
for following your timeline so well!
So be prepared and carefully make out your plan to stop smoking. Make sure to add
a quitting smoking timeline to your next quit attempt. Remember, a timeline can be
more complex and requires a full understanding. We have loads of information we
link to and resources on our website for you to browse. You and your family will reap
the benefits of a quitting smoking timeline that you can enjoy your entire life.
You finally did it. You made the decision to stop smoking. Listen up, having a
quitting smoking timeline can be very helpful as you explore a new life free of
nicotine and cigarettes. In fact, a stop smoking timeline is an integral part of any
smoking cessation plan. It simply helps to set expectations in a way that makes
cravings manageable. How does this work?
A quitting smoking timeline helps to organize the timing of events in your plan. For
instance, the first step would be to find out what triggers your smoking behavior. So
day 1 would be preparation to quitting. The next step might be to create a list of
activities you can perform when the cravings hit. This helps to take your mind off the
cigarette. So day 2 would be spent coming up with a list of distractions.
You can see how this timeline idea works. They say a goal without a date is not a
goal, but a pipe-dream. I would piggy-back onto that idea and say a stop smoking
plan without a quitting smoking timeline is nothing more than a recipe for relapse.
You should have the plan mapped out on a calendar - quit date, activities, support
calls with phone numbers, goals, etc. The calendar should be 12 months long. If
you think you won't have any cravings in month 6 or 12 after you've quit, then you're
fooling yourself.
Quitting Smoking Timeline: Long Term View
You should have another 12 month calendar ready to go when the first year is up.
The cravings are sneaky and can strike when you least expect it. However, this
calendar may just ask the question, "Did you have any cravings today or this week?",
"What did you do to overcome them?".
You may also want to start a benefit journal which details how you feel. Tracking
your symptoms or lack of symptoms might be a good way to see the benefits of a
quit smoking timeline. For example, you may notice changes in your heart rate,
breathlessness or cough. All these symptoms follow a disease timeline, as well,
and should improve as you hit your goals and targets for cessation. There are lots of
items you can track, even the financial impact of no longer spending at least five or
six bucks on a pack of cigarettes. Take the money you would be spending on
tobacco and place it in a jar on the kitchen table. By the end of the first week, you
could have a substantial amount of money which could then be used as a reward
for following your timeline so well!
So be prepared and carefully make out your plan to stop smoking. Make sure to add
a quitting smoking timeline to your next quit attempt. Remember, a timeline can be
more complex and requires a full understanding. We have loads of information we
link to and resources on our website for you to browse. You and your family will reap
the benefits of a quitting smoking timeline that you can enjoy your entire life.
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