Rewards

Using Rewards to Manage Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms

Pamper Yourself!

Quitting tobacco is hard work, and every single day you complete smoke-free early on is a victory, plain and simple. Honor the effort you're putting into saving your life by rewarding yourself at the end of every day in small ways that refresh and relax you.

Come up with a list of small gifts to treat yourself daily.

Ideas include:

• Take a hot bath.
• Buy a new candle.
• Find a quiet corner and read a good book.
• Take a power nap.
• Enlist someone else in the family to cook dinner.
• Have a cup of tea.
• Listen to a relaxation tape or soothing music.
• Head for the gym.
• Do some gardening.

Think of your daily reward as an investment in your smoke-free future. When you take the time to relieve the stress of your day and recharge your batteries, you're doing your best to insure that you'll be able to greet the next new day with strength and resolve.

• 101 Things to Do Instead of Smoking

Be patient and kind to yourself during the early days of smoking cessation. The freedom gained when we break free of the chains of nicotine addiction far outweighs the discomforts of nicotine withdrawal. Better days are ahead.