Check out the 3 Top Challenges When Trying to Kick the Butt
The famous author, Mark Twain, once said, “Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I’ve done it thousands of times.”
While this quote is amusing, the fact remains that trying to quit smoking is one of the toughest things to do. Millions of people try and fail repeatedly. The discomfort, withdrawal symptoms, strong addiction, inertia and stepping out of the comfort zone make this a very onerous task.
Here are the 3 Top Challenges When Trying to Kick the Butt!
Even Hercules’ challenges pale in comparison to a smoker trying to quit. Why is this so?
Number 1.
The first issue is temptation. Just like people who are trying to lose weight get tempted by food, smokers get tempted by the idea of “relaxing”. That’s what they feel when they take a puff. That immense sense of relief and relaxation because the body craves its nicotine fix.
Habits will also be ingrained in their daily behaviour without them even knowing it. Taking a smoke break with your buddy at work? That’s a habit. Taking a puff with your wife after a romp in the bedroom? That’s a habit. Lighting up stick after stick at a party flowing with booze? That’s a habit.
Since these habits are a part of you and people, by nature, are creatures of habit, you will constantly face temptation. That’s a given. You will need to break out of your usual patterns to avoid temptation.
When you’re trying to quit, avoid the scenarios where you may find yourself smoking on a normal day. Avoid the parties if you smoke there. Avoid following your friend for his smoke break, even if it’s just to keep him company. Avoid temptations.
3 Top Challenges When Trying to Kick the Butt
Number 2.
The second challenge that you will face is the incessant questions from well-meaning family members, friends and even strangers. For example, you may be getting nicotine gum at the store, and the store owner may ask you, “Oh! Trying to quit, are we? Good luck with that, buddy!”
It may get annoying after a while. Some of your close friends may even start a pool just to see when you give up and go back to cigarettes. It’s all funny to them. In most cases, they will be smokers too and will do their best to prevent you from quitting. This is human nature.
If you successfully quit, your success will shine a spotlight on their failure, and nobody likes that. You don’t mean to, but that’s just the way things are. If all this perturbs you, your best option will be to tell everyone it’s a real struggle, that you don’t wish to talk about it, and to tempt yourself. Hopefully, they get the hint.
Number 3.
Finally, you need to self-reflect and see why you are smoking in the first place. That’s the third challenge. You will need to be honest with yourself. There is usually an emotional reason.
Some people smoke because they are stressed out at work. Others smoke because the Marlboro Man looked cool once upon a time, and they still think it’s cool. One of the models, David Millar, who played the Marlboro Man, died of cancer. So, that pretty much says how “cool” smoking is.
You must figure out your reason for smoking and address the underlying issue, or your efforts will just be exercises in futility. Once you have identified it, you can take appropriate steps to address it. If it’s stress, relaxation techniques to dissipate your stress will be helpful… and no… smoking is NOT a relaxation technique.
If you’re smoking because it’s a habit, then there are nicotine gums and patches that will gradually diminish your cravings, and finally, you will be able to quit this nasty habit and never look back.
“Rather than you smoking a cigarette, the cigarette is really smoking you.” – Anthony Liccione
