If you’re a smoker who has tried to quit multiple times, but haven’t, and you’ve purchased a new house or moving into a new apartment, now is the perfect time to quit.
You’re highly experienced with quitting the dangerous habit, but feel you lack the self-discipline to stay clear of smoking. It is not the lack of will that keeps you smoking; it’s your home that keeps you hostage to the “stogie.”
Many talk about smoking being a bad habit, but most experts do not speak to how your environment and daily routine keep you hooked on cigarettes. It isn’t enough to simply make the choice to put the cigarettes down.
I was a 25 year smoker. Smoking was my “everything.” It went with coffee, watching the news, great conversations, before meals, after meals, night caps, waking up, stress, excitement, preparing for important events, studying, beer, and boredom. When I would attempt to quit smoking, I continued my normal routine setting myself up for failure as the only habit I changed was not to smoke.
It wasn’t until my girlfriend and I decided to move in together that it dawned on me that I had a true opportunity to quit…my last ditch effort. After all my different experiences to quit smoking, the one thing I learned about past failure is that smoking is a comfort affair. Taking a drag from a cigarette and inhaling it is a re-enforcing ritual as you sit in that same enjoyable chair in that same cozy home puffing away day after day. It is that safe, relaxing place that keeps you smoking because your habit is your habitat.
If you want to quit smoking and are going to move, plan your “Quit Day” to be the day when everything is moved into your new abode. Do not smoke in the new place, not even in the yard. Do not associate smoking with your new home in any way.
Yes, you will get pangs to smoke, but it’s easier to disassociate from them because you are no longer in an environment that re-enforces your old, personal habits. The pangs will become shorter in duration and spread further apart as you move forward smoke free.
Driving to work, hanging with friends who smoke, etc. will be ongoing challenges, but those are momentary in nature. Your new, smoke free home is permanent and I promise that if you do not light up, one day you will be sitting on your couch, watching the news drinking coffee reminding yourself, “I used to smoke?,” and wonder why.
If you have no plans to move and have tried everything to quit smoking, consider moving to break the cycle of smoking. In the long-run it will save you money and your health when you finally achieve being smoke free.
