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!

A Dilemma

I decided to increase the number of perforations from 3 to 4. By doing so, I have entered the last step of Phase 1 of my quit smoking plan. So far I have found transitions to more perforations quite easy. The first day or so after I start using an additional perforation is a little hard, but not bad at all. It just takes some getting used to.

Now that I am on the last step of Phase 1, I will start to slowly work on Phase 2. If you have not read my quit smoking plan, in Phase 2 I focus on the habit of smoking. I will work on training my mind that I do not need cigarettes to get through life. I will start by cutting out cigarettes that I don't need. For example, when I walk across campus, I do not need a cigarette to make it to my destination AND a cigarette to make it back to my office. I have already begun to cut some of these cigarettes out. When I am at work, I no longer carry my cigarettes with me. I leave them on my desk.

So here is my dilemma. I am just now starting Phase 2 of the plan. And I only have 2 packs of cigarettes left. I could just say that after these 2 packs, I am done smoking. But I also think I should spend some time working on Phase 2. If I just stop smoking after these 2 packs, I think I will fail. I think the withdrawal and cravings will be too much for me to handle. I know that even after I complete Phase 2 that there will be some withdrawal, but I don't think it will be as severe.

In order to work on Phase 2, I will need cigarettes. But I am tired of paying the high prices for cigarettes. I also do not want to buy more cigarettes than I will need. I am used to buying cigarettes by the carton. Maybe I should start buying a few packs at a time. I guess I could try that and see what happens. Well, I think I just solved my dilemma. I will just start buying cigarettes by the pack.