Habits Can Be Replaced

I remember as a smoker, one of my favourite things I used to do was to have a cup of coffee and a smoke after a meal. I think all smokers can relate to this. There is a sense of comfort and relaxation that one gets from this.

Of course, on hindsight I realised that this is a false sense of comfort.

This false sense of comfort puts one in a comfort zone and is the perfect excuse for those who wants to continue to be a victim of this bad habit. It also provides a false sense of security that 'if it feels good, it cannot be that bad for you'!

Once when I decided to quit smoking, one of the silliest thing I did was continue to go to smoky places like pubs and discos because I was still drinking (the pubs/discos in Singapore then were not smoke free yet). The temptation to pick up a cigarette was just so strong that I actually held a cigarette the whole night without lighting up. I would every now and then just sniff at the cigarette. I realised that I was addicted to the act and habit of smoking rather than being addicted to the nicotine. Of course, my conviction to quit smoking didn't last - it was just too easy to go back into my comfort zone.

I tried this same method countless times hoping to quit but only reaching out for one more puff and then 2 more and before I know it, it was 1-2 packs a day again.

Obviously, I was doing all the wrong things.

On my last try to quit, these were what I finally did right:
1. stop buying cigarettes
2. stop hanging out with people who smoke (cigarettes or other 'smokable' stuff)
3. stop hanging out at places where smoking is allowed
4. exercise

It was hard at first to isolate myself but I spent a lot of time watching movies at home. BUT I was still drinking. (One of the tell tale signs of an alcoholic - drinking a lot alone)

Eventually it worked. The longer I went without cigarettes, the easier it got, the more aware I was of how clogged up my lungs were. It was a big victory in many ways.

© 2008 Shamala Tan

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