Changing your morning routine can help.
Here are five practical tips on how to distract yourself and create new routines to stop smoking or vaping, provided by people who've quit!
A new morning routine
"I started having hot water with lemon each morning instead of tea or coffee and made myself have a shower as soon as I woke up, no matter what. These little things help because they remind you that you are living/about to live a different kind of life. A better life. You can do it!" - Peta
Second by second, minute by minute
"I prepared myself mentally by telling myself that if I felt like a cigarette, I would give in only after 20 seconds and then another five seconds and so on. Seconds turned into minutes, minutes into hours. You get the picture." - Keith
Try not to act on cravings immediately.
Pumpkin seeds
"This might sound weird but I ate pumpkin seeds every time I felt like having a cigarette, it helped me forget about going out for a cigarette and also kept my hands busy. I quit cold turkey and re-learned how to do things like have a coffee without a cigarette." – Jane
Keep your hands busy to help mange cravings.
Tips from Quitline counsellors
We also asked a couple of our Quitline counsellors for their best tips on how to work your way through a craving or relax your mind and body during a stressful time.
Peel away
Create a new downtime distraction by eating a piece of fruit that keeps your hands busy – an orange, grapefruit or apple for example, take a bit of time to peel.
Give yourself a task to stay busy.
Touch can relax your mind and body
Why you should do it
Touch can help to regulate your immune system. It also leads to the release of a hormone called oxytocin, which can lower stress levels.
How to do it
Pat your pet, give yourself a head massage or rub in some fragrant hand or body cream.
