Forums / Distractions / The Distractions Alphabet

The Distractions Alphabet

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  1. efram, quit coach
    efram, quit coach avatar
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    14 Jan 2018
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    Hi All,

    It's mid-January, starting to get cold out, and pretty often I hear from our clients that "There's nothing else to do but smoke."

    So, time to get creative! If we can come up with at least one distraction that starts with each letter of the alphabet, hopefully we'll have something for everyone! Please keep it clean, and remember that there are no bad ideas!  

    So, who's got an A handy?
    Last modified on 14 Jan 2018 20:48 by efram, quit coach
  2. Decided
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    15 Jan 2018 in reply to efram, quit coach
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    a for apple    munching on a nice juicy royal gala apple does not go with a cigarette
  3. Val H
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    B is for breathing deeply.
  4. brieffree
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    D for Distract yourself

    D for Discuss about it

    D Drink a lot water
  5. Decided
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    E is for everyone who assists you in your journey of living smokefree
  6. brieffree
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    S for Strategy to cop with the stress
  7. ocean
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    F is for FUNNY, lots of self deprecation as you have a little distance to laugh at the FRANTIC moments to share.  F is also for FEAR, that awful thing that holds me back from trying to quit, and the FEAR of FAILURE once again.  So keep it FUNNY in your head and beat FATIGUE by trying new things that will inspire you, like new FLAVORED FOOD.
  8. Decided
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    G is for goat      you have to be as stubborn as a goat to keep on the quit road
  9. ocean
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    H is for Hope during helpless moments or fleeting thoughts and urges.  Hope that you won't grab a puff or more importantly that you'll withstand the moments and that it will get better.
  10. efram, quit coach
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    Hi All,

    Nice to see so many creative and healthy ideas!

    Decided, an Apple sounds like a perfect distraction. It takes a while to eat, is enjoyable, and keeps the hands and mouth otherwise occupied! I like that you also included the E for Everyone who assists; friends, family, neighbours, co-workers, even friendly strangers can all help, and activities with friends could also work well as distractions. And G for Goat ... I love the stubborn mindset!

    Quitfriend, thanks for the reminder for the B, to Breathe deeply! Simple and effective, also a nice way to calm down.

    Brieffree, you covered the letter D very well! D is for Distraction; Discussing and Drinking water can help the cravings pass by distracting the brain away from that cigarette thought. Thank you. I also like the S for Strategy to cope with stress. For this I'd like to add another S: Specific! Strategies are even more effective when they include specific ideas, such as Sewing, Singing, Scrapbooking, Showering, Stamp collecting, etc.!

    And Ocean, thanks for covering the F and the H! Trying new flavored food and trying new things in general can help while quitting! Keeping yourself amused, thinking of the Funny moments can help to keep the Fear from holding one back. On that topic: there is no way that you can fail, as long as you keep trying. Every attempt is a success because you learn each time. Which brings us to H, for Hope!

    I think we skipped C somehow! For me, C is going to be Comic books. Do you have a C to share too?

    Thanks all! I look forward to seeing more of your creative distractions!

    Regards,
    Efram
    Last modified on 18 Jan 2018 12:01 by efram, quit coach
  11. Decided
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    i is for ignore      we all need to ignore thoughts through distraction 
    i thought about buying a pack today and it was really hard to ignore that
    i lovingly said to myself    idiot you do not smoke anymore
  12. treepeo
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    C is for computer games.  I play hidden object games, and they really helped to distract me when I first quit.
  13. marianne, quit coach
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    Computer games (hidden objects) + Ignore (those thoughts).  

    Anyone ready with one for "J"?
  14. ocean
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    J is for Jigsaw puzzles.  You leave it out for as long as it takes to while away the minutes or hours.  I was also thinking of jamming, making music with a few friends.  Even taking up a cheap one like the harmonica.
  15. Decided
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    jamming really works    i have a base ukelele and i am learning to read music
     my partner and i play together  
    k is for kissing which is a lot better without cigarettes
  16. Decided
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    L is for love    you have to love yourself and get love from others when you are quitting smoking
    L is for laughing  which you have to do lots      laughing at yourself
  17. Val H
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    M is for music which can offer a healthy distraction. M is also for Making Memories which I plan to do by spending some quality time with my family. 
  18. Decided
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    N is for negotiation    i find i am constantly doing this   when i want that morning cigarette i tell myself   just wait til lunch  and then just wait til supper
    or have an orange instead

    N is mostly for nicotine a drug that has me completely hooked
  19. marianne, quit coach
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    Interesting words you have all selected! 

    Anyone have an "O?"
  20. brieffree
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    O Oppose that action.
  21. marianne, quit coach
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    Really see how meaningful these words are for you.  

    I choose one for "O" as well since it meant this for me when I quit smoking:  

    O- Opportunity (for change- a new life)
    Last modified on 28 Jan 2018 19:50 by marianne, quit coach
  22. theboz
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    "P" is for PERSISTENCE (stay on course) and stay POSITIVE!

    This is a great thread and I'm sure I will refer to it often in the coming days!
  23. ocean
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    Q is for Quest.  I can't travel at this time, but I love to google maps wheneevr I read national or international news or stories.   And we are on this Quit Quest, so I think of all the off the beaten path places I'd like to see in my fantasy trips.
  24. marianne, quit coach
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    Totally agree with you theboz- a great thread, we can compile the list at the end and refer to often.  

    Anyone ready with an "R"?  

    Marianne
  25. dedi
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    14 Feb 2018 in reply to marianne, quit coach
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    R for  rest and relaxation...rest repairs the body and relaxation give better sleep
  26. valerie, quit coach
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    Thanks for coming up with great recommendations for the letter R Dedi. It's also a great way to remind ourselves how quitting smoking positively impacts our quality of life. 

    Anyone have a "S" to share?

    Valerie
  27. ocean
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    I love that R distraction!  I know it's weird, but S for clear, unclogged, unblocked moist Sinus'!  I must have been allergic to cigarette smoke, because mine have been whistle clear for weeks and I probably don't Snore anymore!  So I sleep very well. S S S
  28. eagerquit
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    07 Mar 2018 in reply to efram, quit coach
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    "E" is for extra money. I calculated the true cost of smoking for myself. In addition to the cost of the actual cigarettes, there is also the cost of driving to get them and the opportunity cost of not having that money earning interest or dividends, among other ancillary smoking related expenses. My true cost is 93 cents per waking hour, $15.81 per 17 waking hours, $474.30 per month and $5691.60 per year. Taxes on cigarettes were scheduled to increase soon, so I also dodged that bullet. And yes, I have more time on my hands!
  29. ocean
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    Hi Eagerquit,
    Did you factor in all of the extra 'coin' you drop on impulse purchases when buying your pack a day?  I've been noticing huge savings from not spending on the pack of gum, can of pepsi, or the coffe I'd pick up when I was just running in for my smokes.  Lol, it really adds up.  I can probably go on a cash diet now that I'm not whittling away money on these daily incidentals.
  30. treepeo
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    S is for the satisfaction I feel living my life as a non-smoker.
40 posts, 0 answered