Story #4: Every morning I used to wake up, wash my face, eat breakfast and smoke a cigarette or two before heading out for duty. It’s something I looked forward to at the start of my day. Now that I quit, I’m sluggish in the morning. What can I do instead to start my day right?

Plan:

• Remember why you quit. When you wake up, read your list of reasons why you quit tobacco in the first place.
• Revamp your morning. Brainstorm new ways to revamp your morning [PDF 253KB] and keep each day fresh with a different activity to look forward to. Some examples may be:
  • Write in a journal
  • Meditate or do stretches
  • Go for a walk
  • Crush a quick workout
  • Try new types of coffee or tea
  • Text with a buddy
• Retrain your brain. You can always help ease a craving by mimicking the act of smoking with a straw or if you used smokeless tobacco, have some sugar-free hard candy.
• Keep busy with these new activities. You will find that the cravings decrease as time goes on. And remember to reward yourself with a non-tobacco treat every so often—you’ve earned it!