★★★★★
TLDR: Keep cigarettes on hand as a way to keep yourself comfortable in the knowledge that you can have one if you "need" it (you won't need it.). Keep your mind and hands busy. (Drawing, painting, model kits, studying, tinkering, etc.. anything that makes you think and keeps your hands busy).
Let me preface by saying, I was not some special case that somehow was not "as addicted as you".. For a long time, on some level I had fooled myself into believing I couldn't quit cold turkey and assumed people that did, were just not as addicted as I was. Nonsense.
I smoked for about 10 years. About a pack and a half per day. I was as addicted as anyone else. I'd smoke as soon as I woke up, a meal wasnt complete until I had a cigarette after, a car ride didnt begin til I had a cigarette in hand. And I'd move heaven and earth to get a pack of cigarettes if I was out, I'd get stressed and feel panicked and anxious if I didnt have cigarettes or money to get them. Cigarettes were seemingly as essential as food, water, and air for me at one point. And if I had to choose between a good meal and a pack of cigarettes, I probably would have taken the cigarettes because food is a lot easier to come by.
So how did I do it? The key things, for me, were 1 keeping cigarettes on hand.. I had almost a whole pack of cigarettes in the glove box of my car. They were a security blanket for me. If I didnt have them and the option to go grab one, then I would have been stressed and panicked that I couldnt get one if I "needed" one. So It was always my choice in the moment not to smoke. That was a HUGE one for me. As before when I would try to quit, first thing I'd do is try to remove the option of smoking from myself by tossing them out.
Next, keeping my hands and mind busy. The day after I decided to quit, I just happened to have gotten a new grill. I was nearly done putting the thing together when I realized, I didnt have a single thought or craving for a cigarette for the entire time I was working on the grill, which altogether took about an hour. Considering I hadnt had a cigarette since the day before, that was significant. And so, I found ways to keep my mind and hands busy. I did a lot of drawing, painting, model kits, studying, etc.
After a few days, it gets easier. After a couple of weeks, it gets a lot easier. After that, you're pretty well in the clear. I think cold turkey is probably the best method, as others such as nicotine patches or gum, just prolong the process by keeping you dependent on nicotine... not to mention the extra money.
