Beating Bad Habits

Fighting back against a harmful habit is a bit like dealing with a flood at your house: After you get the water out and deal with the initial crisis, you then have to focus on making sure it can’t get back in at a later date. There’s a quote often attributed to Mark Twain: “It’s easy to quit smoking. I’ve done it hundreds of times.” Twain probably didn’t actually say that, but the basic sentiment is true. Most of us can gather the will and energy to quit a harmful habit like smoking or drinking excessively. Staying away from it for good is a much trickier proposition, and it’s no wonder that so many people relapse and must start over. There are a few things we can do to guard against that, and that will help us when it comes to beating bad habits.

Find Another Distraction

People with what we call addictive personalities often feel as if they need something to focus their energies on. What will they do with their free time if they can’t smoke, drink, or gamble? The period right after you quit is a great time to look into a new hobby or restart an old one. It can be whatever you think might have a positive influence on the world or just whatever you think will positively influence your particular world. Some people collect stamps or go searching for antique books to add to their collection. Other people start exercising and make plans to run a 5k race. Exercise, in general, is a good way to distract your brain from thinking about smoking, as it’s hard to beat the rush of endorphins that occurs after a nice workout.

After they quit smoking, many smokers say, “I just need something to do with my hands.” That’s a common desire, and it can be met by taking up knitting or something similar. The ritual of smoking is calming for smokers, and that’s hard to replace. That helps explain why vaping has taken off. E-cigarettes like the ske crystal Bar use batteries and vapor rather than a cigarette lighter, vapes typically come in a wide range of flavours which can make the experience more enjoyable versus the “dirty” taste that cigarettes are known for. Furthermore, they’re generally found to be less harmful to your health than smoking cigarettes. The LED light at the end of an e-cigarette resembles a lit cigarette, which is also helpful for people who want to feel like they’re smoking without actually returning to cigarettes. It’s not for everyone, but it’s not a bad idea to check out flum vape and see if anything appeals to you.

Be Kind

Seeking perfection is pointless. OK, it’s not pointless. It can be nice to strive for, but it’s also important to know that you are never going to get there. People who feel like they have zero room for error are more likely to throw their hands in the air and say, “I give up” once they encounter adversity. Trying to beat your addiction is a worthy goal, but there will be good days and bad ones. There will be moments when you return to the drug or substance you crave, but don’t take that as a sign that the whole exercise is pointless. Forgive yourself and try again.

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