Progress Update

Well, I am officially on Phase 2 of my Quit Smoking Plan. This is the phase where I focus on the habitual aspect of my smoking. During Phase 1 I focused on reducing my body's dependence on nicotine. I found Phase 1 relatively simple. Phase 2 seems like it is going to be a little harder. The saying that "bad habits are hard to break" holds true. But aren't all habits hard to break? If you stop and think for a few moments, how many things do you do throughout the course of a day out of habit? If you look up the word habit at dictionary.com, you will find that the first definition is "an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary". The key word in the definition is 'involuntary'. A habit is something you do unconsciously...without thinking about it.

Smoking is a hard habit to break. I am finding that out now. There are so many times that I find myself going out for a cigarette without even thinking about it. It just kind of comes naturally. The trick to getting through Phase 2 and 'kicking the habit' is going to be to consciously think about my smoking. I think what I need to do first is to slowly work on cutting out 'unnecessary' cigarettes. I know that sounds a little silly...unnecessary cigarettes. Aren't all cigarettes unnecessary? But seriously, there are times I find myself having a cigarette when I really do not need one. These are the first cigarettes that I am going to work on cutting out. Wish me luck!