GUS (Gave Up Smoking) is a community support diary for Kossacks in the midst of quitting smoking. Any supportive comments, suggestions or positive distractions are appreciated. If you are quitting or thinking of quitting, please -- join us!
You can also click the GUS tag to view all diary posts, or access The GUS Library at dKosopedia for a great list of stop-smoking links. Check it out!
How many times have you thought to yourself; "I know I need to quit smoking but I just can't find the right time to do it. There is too much stress in my life right now.
My job is so stressful there is no way I can start quitting during the work week. I'd probably get fired by lunch time the first day. Maybe if I start my "quit" on Friday night or Saturday morning I could get a 2 day head start. By noon Saturday you think that 2 days isn't long enough and you'll need to keep your job come Monday. So OK, I'll wait till I can go on a long stress free vacation. Six months later you're at the beach relaxing and trying to have a good time but the stress of quitting has you tied in knots. Since the whole purpose of a vacation is to relax and enjoy yourself you go buy a pack and light up. Immediate problem solved, long term solution delayed. So it goes, year after year. You wait for the perfect set of conditions or a magic bullet that will make quitting easy. Procrastination becomes our modus operandi.
The hard truth is that there is no perfect time or easy way to quit.
The best time to start quitting is now and the best way to quit is whatever works for you. There are always exceptions but for most people it's going to take commitment and work no matter what else is going on in your life. That's why almost every quit smoking method recommends you plan ahead to increase your chances of success.
The first step is educating yourself. There is a lot of good information in the Gus Library and elsewhere on the web. Pick a plan, set a date and just "do it". If you slip up, forgive yourself and start again. If nicotine gum doesn't work for you, try the nicotine patches. If that doesn't help try something else. Every person is different so what works for one person may not work for you. Just keep trying. Eventually you will succeed.
We're here to help and listen. If you're having a successful quit, share it with us. Reached a milestone? Let's celebrate it! If it's all gone to hell, we understand.
I was hoping there would be an Angels v Yankees baseball game tonight we could roll into this diary but it looks like the weather gods are saying "not tonight dear, I've got a splitting Cumulonimbus"
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Here's the list of GUSsacks and GUS buddies (people who quit before GUS or who never smoked but whose lives have been affected by smoking) as of October 24 2009:
1BQ, 3rdGenFeminist, Abra Crabcakeya, addisnana, AfroPonix, alstradamus, amk for obama, andsarahtoo, Anne933, aoeu, arcadesproject, Archie2227, ArthurWolf (in memoriam), awkawk, bamablue, barnowl, bgblcklab1, Bike Crash, BirderWitch, bkamr, bleeding heart, blue husky, BlueinKansas, Blue Intrigue, bluestatedem84, BoiseBlue, Brahman Colorado, breedlovinit, BrowniesAreGood, bsmechanic, burrow owl, Cali Scribe, Cen Den, Chocolate Chris, ChurchofBruce, coppercelt, dadanation, dangoch, demkat620, Dexter, DiegoUK, Dingodude, donnamarie, DRo, droogie6655321, duckhunter, EdgedInBlue, Everest42, fhamme, Fineena, Flea, flumptytail, FrugalGranny, Garrett, gooners, greylox, gchaucer2, Geiiga, grndrush, High Tide, Im a frayed knot, Indexer, indyada, Interceptor7, inventor, itsbenj, Jahiz, JamesEB, Jeffersonian Democrat, john07801, jmadlc55, johngoes, Jyrix, jvolvo's Mom, jwinIL14, kai99, kailuacaton, Kelly of PA, kestrel9000,kfd313, khloemi, Khun David, Ksholl, labwitchy, Lady Kestrel, ladypockt, langerdang, LarsThorwald, Last Starfighter, Laurie Gator, Lipstick Liberal, litoralis, lmdonovan, luvsathoroughbred, maggiemay, magicsister, marknspokane, mdemploi, michael1104, Mikeguyver, Minerva1157, MinervainNH, Mother of Zeus, mskitty, nannyboz, ncsuLAN, Nick Zouroudis, one pissed off democrat, Ordvefa, OverTheEdge, paige, PaintyKat, Pennsylvanian, phrogge prince, Positronicus, post rational, psycho liberal, PvtJarHead, red mittens, relentless, revelwoodie, rkex, roadlion, rosebuddear, Safina, SallyCat, Sark Svemes, seenaymah, Scrapyard Ape, sgary, sheddhead, smartcookienyc, spmozart, SpotTheCat, Tay, theatre goon, TigerMom, triciawyse, trueblueliberal, Turn VABlue, Turtle Bay, uc booker, Unduna, Unforgiven, Vacationland, webranding, weelzup, Wes Opinion, willy mugobeer, Wood Dragon, x
Wanna write a diary? Wanna host an open thread? Sign up in the butt can (tip jar) for your preferred date and time!
Because we're operating without any formal "organizers," it's up to us to keep the community vibrant. Besides, we'd love to hear from some new diarists! If this community and diary series have helped you, please sign up to write in the butt can (tip jar) for your preferred date and time (typically, around 7-9 AM and 5-7 PM ET but we're flexible - just tell us what time to look for the diary and we'll find it!). The schedule is wide open!
Sat PM: post rational
Sun AM: Have a fun and productive
Sun PM: bgblklab1
Mon AM: and beginning
Mon PM: ChocolateChris
OK, This is easy, really. A little cut and paste, a few words of wisdom (or nonsense) and you've got a diary. Just "build it" and we will come.