One of the hardest things about quitting can be attending social situations where you are used to smoking.
For many smokers, having a cigarette at a party or over a drink is a well-entrenched habit. But it is one you have the power to overcome. You might be surprised how much a bit of planning and a few changes in your routine can help.
Do you smoke when you are socially awkward or bored, see others smoking, or want to escape from a conversation? Knowing what makes you smoke when you're in social situations can help you work out how to deal with these triggers.
Try following these tips when you become a non-smoker:
- Take baby steps at first. Try meeting friends at smokefree venues such as the movies or restaurants.
- Before you go out, promise yourself you won't smoke.
- When you go out, have a quitting buddy or non-smoking friend with you as support. They can keep you entertained and remind you of your goal to quit when you want a cigarette.
- Try to avoid alcohol for the first few weeks while you're quitting, especially in situations where you would have smoked.
- If you still want to have alcohol, cut down on how much you drink by alternating alcoholic drinks with glasses of water. Also, change your drink to something you don't usually have and hold it on the opposite hand to your usual one to remind you that your habits are changing.
- Keep your hands and mouth busy by chewing gum, playing with your mobile phone or sipping a bottle of water.
- Practise saying 'No thanks, I don't smoke' in case someone offers you a cigarette. Don't let other people talk you into having a cigarette.
- Remember: it's okay to go home if the cravings get too bad. You can afford a taxi with the money you've saved by quitting.
- Don't make the mistake of having ‘just one.' For many people this can lead back to full time smoking.
- If you are unsure of what to do in some situations, ask or watch what non-smokers do.