Smoking

Today I am starting to quit smoking.

Awhile ago, I picked July 1st as my start date. Originally I was going o quit cold turkey until I realized that it probably wouldn't work for me. I went without my first cigarette of the day. I did have my usual second (but my first today).

I'm setting my alarm for every four hours. That's about the longest I can go before I go crazy and will cut me down to about a fifth of what I normally smoke. I'll work on increasing the hours in between. It feels better knowing there is another cigarette in my future.

My boyfriend is prepared to support me whether I succeed or fail. He knows how hard it is, especially the first try.

I know it's a lame motivation, but my big issue is that I'm tired of both me and my car smelling like smoke.

My second reason is that I'm 31 and I don't want to develop smoker's face.

I'm working on how to keep myself occupied during my trigger times.

Some of my ideas:

1. Brush my teeth.
2. Do some brief exercise.
3. Watch a YouTube video.
4. Blog. :)
5. Spend five minutes doing some sort of cleaning around the house.

The idea is that I need some sort of break. That's what having a cigarette is for me- a break from what I'm doing. The only time that's different is in the morning and when I'm driving. Those will be the hardest. In the morning, I make up for a night without cigarettes, puntcuating each cup of coffe with a cigarette. During a drive, smoking gives me something to do while passing the time. Right now I'm going to go clean out my car to try to get some of the smell and ash out to help motivate me.

I could use all the support I can get.