Things to Do Instead of Smoking

OK, I'm gearing up for Quit Week 1 starting Monday, which every former smoker knows is a horrible experience. I am psyching myself up by thinking of all the things I can do to distract myself from any nicotine cravings and channel those feelings of anxiety and restlessness into something more productive or beneficial. I know all of my lovely friends here can come up with some good ideas that I haven't thought of, so I leave it to you! 

Here are my favourites, so far:

Take a Lush bath. 
Read a book.
Write something.
Visit the Why Quit website for motivational support.
Give myself a manicure, pedicure, facial or other pampering beauty treatment.
Take the dog for a walk on the beach.
Ride my bike around the harbour.
Do some yoga/stretches.
Do an exercise video or lift some weights.
Organise something (oh please, could I really do that? )
Clean something (more shocking things have happened!)
Take a drive.
Do a crossword puzzle.
Play an addictive easy game online (Bejeweled is good.)
Play a very absorbing video game on the PS3 or the Mac (preferably where I can shoot people so I can get the aggression out. )
Bake something nice.

Any other ideas for other things I could do to distract myself when I want to smoke?

Some of those are things I did.  Crosswords/sudokus/ken-kens were a lifesaver for me.  Especially when I was at work and everyone else was going out for smoke breaks.

One I can add is:

Plan (shop  ) for what you're going to do with all that money you'll be saving since you won't be buying cigarettes anymore.

I bought myself a bunch of pricey cheese I'd been drooling over as a 4 weeks smoke-free gift.

Some guys I work with who were quite heavy smokers (20+ a day) have switched to these things: http://www.theelectroniccigarette.co.uk/
Apparently you can put flavoured oils in them to get a nice taste, and you control how much nicotine you put in so you can slowly decrease it at your own pace. It also takes care of the hand-mouth fixation and those times you would most associate with a cigarette, like at the pub or (as in their case) during coffee breaks. Might be a good back up, these guys absolutely swear by them.

Sign language.  Seriously, the hand fixation was killer for me so I started to learn sign language... especially finger spelling at my side.  Though I had what looked like a twitch for years because I was always finger spelling my thoughts. 

I also wrote out 5 reasons I was quitting and each and every time I got a hard craving, I said them to myself.

Oh and throw out all your lighters!


I went from a pack a day to cold turkey quit doing these things... though I am smoking again after 6 years clean but that is another story that taught me that I can't have just one :-)

GOOD LUCK! YOU CAN DO IT!

My grandmother chewed sugar free  gum when she gave up smoking. 30+ years later, she sti goes for the gum whenever she's stressed out

How about some kind of needlework-- cross stitch, knittiing etc.?

Thanks for all the suggestions! My MIL has plenty of jigsaw puzzles, so I could always try doing one of those. Plus I thought of another simple one - shuffling cards and playing solitaire. I love shuffling cards for some stupid reason (took me ages to learn how to do the bridge when I was a kid and I was so excited when I finally learned that I showed it to everyone - lol). That should keep the hands busy. Last time I quit cold turkey, I tried to figure out a Rubiks Cube. It nearly made me insane, and I never even got close to working it out, but it did keep my hands occupied.

DrSuperL99, I'm on Champix, so that should help the cravings. I don't think I am supposed to use any nicotine replacement therapy while on it. But those do sound pretty good, so if I don't make it this time (but I certainly plan to try my hardest) then I will keep them in mind. So far, I am finding the desire to smoke a bit decreased with the Champix. I'm making small changes now before our quit date Monday. This morning, I put off my morning smoke by 30 minutes and tidied the kitchen instead, and then had my breakfast before lighting up, which was a change for me. I also only had one fag before work instead of my usual two. Plus, after I light up, I ask myself if I really want to finish the cigarette or put it out and find most of the time, I've been putting it out. I am realising that of course this isn't really a magic pill or anything and that I will still have to put in some effort to quit, so I'm just preparing myself to deal with the cravings now.

How about some kind of needlework-- cross stitch, knittiing etc.?

Some sort of arts and crafts is a great idea. I could go out and take some photos, or try sketching or something like that (I'm not very good at drawing, but I do enjoy it). Collages are always fun. I'd love to learn to play my guitar, but have no idea how to teach myself. I don't even know how to tighten the strings or tune it properly. 

Some sort of arts and crafts is a great idea. I could go out and take some photos, or try sketching or something like that (I'm not very good at drawing, but I do enjoy it). Collages are always fun. I'd love to learn to play my guitar, but have no idea how to teach myself. I don't even know how to tighten the strings or tune it properly. 

This.

Sorry if any of these have already been mentioned.

Knitting. Making cards and envelopes. Making jewellery. Baking (and freezing / sharing  ). Get a sewing machine? Take up gardening. Take swimming lessons. Take up birdwatching, fishing, cycling, discover local walking trails. Northumberland seems to be known for these last activities, according to tourism sites.

Take a class? http://www.northumberland.ac.uk/

Buy yourself a terramundi pot to put loose change in to buy a reward when it's full to distract you? http://www.terramundi.co.uk/ 

Good luck! 

Do the wild thing instead!

Do the wild thing instead!

Second this!!!!!!!!

Do the wild thing instead!

Thirded - great distraction! 

Do the wild thing instead!

LOL! Or just do what we did last night... try to be romantic and use the Lush massage bar, then realise you are both too greasy and not really feelin' it anymore.  Plus the chocolate scent of the Therapy bar was making us hungry... for food, that is. 

But yeah, agreed, a very good distraction. 

OK, I'm gearing up for Quit Week 1 starting Monday, which every former smoker knows is a horrible experience. I am psyching myself up by thinking of all the things I can do to distract myself from any nicotine cravings and channel those feelings of anxiety and restlessness into something more productive or beneficial. I know all of my lovely friends here can come up with some good ideas that I haven't thought of, so I leave it to you! 

Here are my favourites, so far:

Take a Lush bath. 
Read a book.
Write something.
Visit the Why Quit website for motivational support.
Give myself a manicure, pedicure, facial or other pampering beauty treatment.
Take the dog for a walk on the beach.
Ride my bike around the harbour.
Do some yoga/stretches.
Do an exercise video or lift some weights.
Organise something (oh please, could I really do that? )
Clean something (more shocking things have happened!)
Take a drive.
Do a crossword puzzle.
Play an addictive easy game online (Bejeweled is good.)
Play a very absorbing video game on the PS3 or the Mac (preferably where I can shoot people so I can get the aggression out. )
Bake something nice.

Any other ideas for other things I could do to distract myself when I want to smoke?

You have a PS3! Play Bomberman!!! I love that game. Go around blowing people up. Multi player too

If you have a PS3, how about karaoke? 

Wine with karaoke is good.