How Video Games Helped Me Quit Smoking
from web site
In somewhat recent years, there was a campaign of anti-smoking commercials from BecomeAnEx.org, and I loved them. It had been the first time I felt like someone really discovered the secret to quitting smoking, and offered it from a sympathetic perspective, with a feeling of humor and a sincere need to help smokers.
I have seen many commercials against smoking over time. Somehave tried fighting cigarettes by unveiling statistics about smoking and its own industry, with this self-righteous "look how clever we have been" approach that is rather alienating. It's like being told to quit smoking by someone who is more invested in their marketing pitch than the problem at hand.
And then there have been the deluge of "scare tactic" commercials that demonstrate blackened lungs and people living with tracheotomies. While I believe these commercials hold some worth, they're more likely to give a smoker pause, rather than actually helping them to quit. iron-fall in, and kicks out the bad ones.
These campaign, however, nailed the essence of the smoking problem in several brief moments. It pointed out that smoking is strongly connected to habitual behavior; you smoke together with your morning cup of coffee, throughout your morning routine, or during happy hour at the bar. These commercials suggested you could relearn all of these activities without a cigarette. The one about happy hour even suggested you "keep a beer in one hand and anything but a cigarette in another". That's smart advice.
Physical addiction of nicotine is nothing when compared to the mental addiction of smoking. That is why wearing a patch doesn't instantly fix the problem; a smoker still really wants to hold and smoke a cigarette. Mental addiction is king. I was quite lucky; I gradually quit smoking simply because I was not enjoying it anymore, and that managed to get far easier to leave. But some of that habitual smoking through association was still rearing its ugly head. Getting rid of those last few lines of defense can be the hardest.
Once you quit cigarettes (or are along the way of doing so), you might notice certain new habits overtaking temporarily. Once of them is the famous one: eating. Along with other ones pop up, like chewing the caps from pens (until they're completely unrecognizable). However, one activity that interfered with my smoking was entirely by chance, and yet so able to keeping my mind and body off of smoking, it must be recommended in support groups: playing video games.
It is probably arguable that the total sensory connection with playing a video game contributes in distracting the ball player from other activities like smoking (or socializing... kidding!), but I really believe that the controller may be the key. Keeping both hands fully occupied and working hastily makes you forget about holding a cigarette.
And why not? more info have a tendency to smoke the most when they are unoccupied, bored and feeling lazy. People smoke on their breaks. People smoke at their laptops and throughout a football game on television. It's down time, time to drink a beer, have a smoke and watch a movie!
Video games are down-time too, but do not let for a half-hearted relationship using them. I remember when I would play games like Halo 3 online, discussing strategies with friends and controlling my Spartan Soldier. I was much too engaged with the game to smoke (or utilize the bathroom, for example!). In fact, when I'd light up a cigarette between matches, I'd take my first puff and put it down, once we would already be back the firefight. By the time I reached for my cigarette again, nothing remained save an extended log of ash, burning away in the ashtray. That's a powerful moment to note; I had made my choice. That wouldn't function as last cigarette I ever had. But it wouldn't be the last time I ignored them and only playing video games, either.
Playing website is not a magical solution, and you can find many variables when quitting smoking, so your mileage can vary greatly. I already wanted to stop smoking, but video games helped by running interference, also it helped to keep me occupied once I stop smoking entirely.
Around this time, I was spending a good deal of my gaming time with portable systems, just like the DS Lite and the PSP (the best part is when you easily justify your PSP purchase, using the amount of cigarettes you are not buying). When I would return from work and settle down for the evening, I would lie on my back bed playing games. That worked great for me, when i was in even less of a posture to reach for a cigarette, and even more relaxed than normal. That said, I believe a stronger case could be made for taking your portable on the go, as it's intended for. Now you're waiting for the subway or sitting throughout your lunch break at the job, and you're focusing on your game, without free hands or time and energy to smoke. Try reading the newspaper instead, or worse, just standing or sitting there. Smoking will become a lot more tempting.
I can't stress the importance enough of video games occupying the hands. While Freud would likely tell us smoking can be an oral fixation (see: eating, chewing pen caps), we hold a cigarette inside our hands; it is part of the appeal. So, when our hands are busy, we are less likely to be holding a cigarette. Playing a game engages the upper 1 / 2 of your body arguably more than driving a car does. When driving, you have one free hand to smoke with. Also, most people drive exactly the same roads ad nauseam, also it largely becomes a mindless activity, second nature even. On the other hand, video gaming frequently change things up, producing new challenges and garnering your full attention merely to master (and even survive) them.
I have seen many commercials against smoking over time. Somehave tried fighting cigarettes by unveiling statistics about smoking and its own industry, with this self-righteous "look how clever we have been" approach that is rather alienating. It's like being told to quit smoking by someone who is more invested in their marketing pitch than the problem at hand.
And then there have been the deluge of "scare tactic" commercials that demonstrate blackened lungs and people living with tracheotomies. While I believe these commercials hold some worth, they're more likely to give a smoker pause, rather than actually helping them to quit. iron-fall in, and kicks out the bad ones.
These campaign, however, nailed the essence of the smoking problem in several brief moments. It pointed out that smoking is strongly connected to habitual behavior; you smoke together with your morning cup of coffee, throughout your morning routine, or during happy hour at the bar. These commercials suggested you could relearn all of these activities without a cigarette. The one about happy hour even suggested you "keep a beer in one hand and anything but a cigarette in another". That's smart advice.
Physical addiction of nicotine is nothing when compared to the mental addiction of smoking. That is why wearing a patch doesn't instantly fix the problem; a smoker still really wants to hold and smoke a cigarette. Mental addiction is king. I was quite lucky; I gradually quit smoking simply because I was not enjoying it anymore, and that managed to get far easier to leave. But some of that habitual smoking through association was still rearing its ugly head. Getting rid of those last few lines of defense can be the hardest.
Once you quit cigarettes (or are along the way of doing so), you might notice certain new habits overtaking temporarily. Once of them is the famous one: eating. Along with other ones pop up, like chewing the caps from pens (until they're completely unrecognizable). However, one activity that interfered with my smoking was entirely by chance, and yet so able to keeping my mind and body off of smoking, it must be recommended in support groups: playing video games.
It is probably arguable that the total sensory connection with playing a video game contributes in distracting the ball player from other activities like smoking (or socializing... kidding!), but I really believe that the controller may be the key. Keeping both hands fully occupied and working hastily makes you forget about holding a cigarette.
And why not? more info have a tendency to smoke the most when they are unoccupied, bored and feeling lazy. People smoke on their breaks. People smoke at their laptops and throughout a football game on television. It's down time, time to drink a beer, have a smoke and watch a movie!
Video games are down-time too, but do not let for a half-hearted relationship using them. I remember when I would play games like Halo 3 online, discussing strategies with friends and controlling my Spartan Soldier. I was much too engaged with the game to smoke (or utilize the bathroom, for example!). In fact, when I'd light up a cigarette between matches, I'd take my first puff and put it down, once we would already be back the firefight. By the time I reached for my cigarette again, nothing remained save an extended log of ash, burning away in the ashtray. That's a powerful moment to note; I had made my choice. That wouldn't function as last cigarette I ever had. But it wouldn't be the last time I ignored them and only playing video games, either.
Playing website is not a magical solution, and you can find many variables when quitting smoking, so your mileage can vary greatly. I already wanted to stop smoking, but video games helped by running interference, also it helped to keep me occupied once I stop smoking entirely.
Around this time, I was spending a good deal of my gaming time with portable systems, just like the DS Lite and the PSP (the best part is when you easily justify your PSP purchase, using the amount of cigarettes you are not buying). When I would return from work and settle down for the evening, I would lie on my back bed playing games. That worked great for me, when i was in even less of a posture to reach for a cigarette, and even more relaxed than normal. That said, I believe a stronger case could be made for taking your portable on the go, as it's intended for. Now you're waiting for the subway or sitting throughout your lunch break at the job, and you're focusing on your game, without free hands or time and energy to smoke. Try reading the newspaper instead, or worse, just standing or sitting there. Smoking will become a lot more tempting.
I can't stress the importance enough of video games occupying the hands. While Freud would likely tell us smoking can be an oral fixation (see: eating, chewing pen caps), we hold a cigarette inside our hands; it is part of the appeal. So, when our hands are busy, we are less likely to be holding a cigarette. Playing a game engages the upper 1 / 2 of your body arguably more than driving a car does. When driving, you have one free hand to smoke with. Also, most people drive exactly the same roads ad nauseam, also it largely becomes a mindless activity, second nature even. On the other hand, video gaming frequently change things up, producing new challenges and garnering your full attention merely to master (and even survive) them.
