Published at 26 November, 2024 12:52.
Question 1: You are feeling anxious about how much you will need to spend, and you would usually distract yourself with a cigarette to help you cope. Do you:
A: Buy some cigarettes but this makes you worry even more as the price is a lot to come out of your weekly budget. Or do you
B: Calculate how much you would usually spend on smoking and decide to use this money on your Christmas, making you less anxious than you were in the first place!
Question 2: You are feeling stressed in the run up to Christmas and there are still presents to buy and wrap, food to order and what feels like a million things still to do. Do you
A: Reach for a cigarette thinking it will relax you and help calm you down. Or do you
B: Take some calming breaths, sit down whilst listening to some music and make a list of the things still to do and shopping still to buy which will make things seem more manageable. Think about delegating some things that other family members may like to do to help. Make time for a walk or do some exercise if you are able, such as Yoga to help focus and calm. Realise that smoking does not calm you down or relieve stress, it makes stress worse and your jobs list will still be there after you have smoked! Remember you do not have to be perfect, and this will lessen your anxiety up to and on the big day itself
Question 3: You are feeling anxious after the food has been eaten and the children are restless. Do you
A: Put them in front of the television or leave them with another family member whilst you escape to have a cigarette at the back door or in the garden. Or do you
B: Relieve your trigger to smoke by reaching for a stress ball whilst getting out the board games, card games or puzzles you can do with the children as well. This keeps your mind off your cravings and triggers to smoke whilst you are all having fun
Question 4: You associate after mealtimes with smoking, and you usually have some alcohol. You are feeling relaxed and merry now the food has been eaten and now you would usually smoke. Do you
A: Immediately reach for the cigarette in response to your triggers to smoke, or
B: Know you have a plan in place, and you have some nicotine replacement products and reach for one of these instead and you have already told your friends and family you have quit smoking, so they know not to offer you cigarettes. They remind you how well you are doing, and you distract yourself, pull a cracker and laugh at the corny joke and pour yourself as glass of non-alcoholic fizz to celebrate the day and your stop smoking journey. By this time the craving or trigger to smoke has passed and you have not smoked!
Question 5: You are hoping for a kiss under the mistletoe this Christmas with someone you’ve been thinking about. Do you
A: Light up a cigarette and take a few drags to give you confidence and calm your nerves. Or do you
B: Realise that smoking makes you more tense and nervous and you will leave a lingering tobacco smell and taste of smoke instead of a longing for another kiss. You go and brush your teeth instead or have a mint. This has helped with your craving and taken your mind off smoking and you feel more confident already!
Preparation is the key to a smoke free holiday season. You can B smoke free!
