How Daily Rewards Can Help You Quit Smoking for Good
The symptoms of nicotine withdrawal can feel overwhelming at times. You may feel depressed, anxious, and irritable. You might be missing the ritual of smoking as well as the release of dopamine, the "feel-good" hormone, in your brain.
The good news: these discomforts are temporary as long as you stay smoke-free. In the meantime, celebrate yourself and your accomplishment of quitting! There are natural ways to increase dopamine in the body and start feeling good.
Plus, rewarding yourself with something each day reinforces your positive behavior—that you're not smoking—and can help manage uncomfortable symptoms of quitting and get you motivated to keep going.
Treat Yourself to Relaxation
Reward yourself with activities that relax you and boost your overall sense of well-being. You might try:
·Getting a massage
·Taking a long bath
·Watching your favorite movie
Day-to-day stressors have been shown to decrease dopamine production in the brain.1 Managing these moments can keep you feeling better during withdrawal. Pay attention to your feelings. Are you overwhelmed? Are you making enough time for yourself throughout the day?
Even a few minutes of meditation a day can improve your well-being, and it's been shown to help reduce cigarette cravings.2 Find a quiet place to sit or lay down. Inhale and exhale deeply, focusing on your breath.
Receive Daily Motivation
We all need to hear that we're doing well and that the task we're working so hard to accomplish is worth it. It inspires us to keep going until we've overcome the temptation to smoke.
If you're connected to a support group, make it a habit of reaching out to them every day. If you have a friend who is also quitting smoking, text each other daily words of encouragement or inspirational quotes.
Studies show that the more support you have from the people around you in your journey to quit smoking, the more motivated you are to keep going.
Getting support from people who care about you can help boost your mood. It's a quick and easy way to feel good that doesn't involve a cigarette.
Buy Yourself Something Special
Don't forget about the money you are saving by quitting smoking. It's estimated that you can save between $2,000 to $4,110 annually when you quit smoking. So why not use some of the money you save to treat yourself?
Maybe you've been wanting to spruce up your wardrobe or buy yourself a ticket to a live concert. It'll feel good to reward yourself with something you really want; you can even remind yourself that this purchase is made possible by the fact that you're now making healthier lifestyle choices.
While purchasing might not be a daily reward, you can keep a money jar or a savings account to put a little money into over time until you're ready to spend!
Enjoy Time With Loved Ones
Let your family and friends know that you celebrating your journey of quitting smoking. Maybe you invite them over for a dinner party to honor your achievements and to thank those who have encouraged you along the way for playing a part in your success.
One study found that positive social interactions helped people who used to smoke manage obstacles throughout quitting.
Even exchanging text messages with a loved one, especially when you're going through the challenges of withdrawal, can be a positive reinforcement of your new smoke-free lifestyle.
Get Active
A great way to reward yourself is with physical activity. Exercise is proven to improve mental health, boost your mood, and increase your energy. For a boost in positive mental health effects, try taking a walk in nature. Being in nature can soothe anxious feelings, lower stress levels, and improve concentration.
When you reward yourself with exercise, you might even notice you're able to breathe better than you used to when you smoked cigarettes.
Try a New Hobby
Think about something you've always wanted to try, but haven't yet. There's no better time to treat yourself to a new hobby than after you've quit smoking.
Maybe you take up a pottery class or you start volunteering at a local homeless shelter.
Connecting with others, getting out into your community, and having fun will also help distract you from any withdrawal symptoms or cravings you are experiencing.
Break Up Your Routine
You might notice that a lot of the same places you go to or the same activities you do can trigger a craving. That's completely normal; while you can't avoid everything that reminds you of smoking, you can manage those cravings.
By going to new places and trying new things after you quit, you'll start to form new associations that don't involve lighting up a cigarette.
Try taking an alternate route home from work, or buying lunch from a restaurant you haven't tried. It could be waking up earlier and meditating before you eat breakfast, or it could mean taking a spontaneous day trip to a place you've always wanted to go.