In somewhat recent years, there is a campaign of anti-smoking commercials from BecomeAnEx.org, and I loved them. It had been the 1st time I felt like someone really discovered the secret to quitting smoking, and offered it from the sympathetic perspective, with a sense of humor and a sincere desire to help smokers.

I have seen many commercials against smoking through the years. 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’s rather alienating. It’s like being told to quit smoking by a person who is more invested in their marketing pitch compared to the problem at hand.

And then there have been the deluge of "scare tactic" commercials that demonstrate blackened lungs and people coping with tracheotomies. While I believe these commercials hold some worth, they’re more likely to provide a smoker pause, instead of actually helping them to give up. Our selective memory kicks in, and kicks out the bad ones.

These campaign, however, nailed the essence of the smoking problem in a few brief moments. It pointed out that smoking is strongly connected to habitual behavior; you smoke with your morning cup of coffee, during your morning routine, or during happy hour at the bar. These commercials suggested that you can relearn most of these activities without a cigarette. The main one about happy hour even suggested you "keep a beer in one hand and not a cigarette in the other". That is smart advice.

Physical addiction of nicotine is nothing in comparison with the mental addiction of smoking. This is why wearing a patch doesn’t instantly repair the problem; a smoker still really wants to hold and smoke a cigarette. Mental addiction is king. I was quite lucky; I gradually gave up smoking simply because I had not been enjoying it anymore, and that made it far easier to walk away. 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 in the process of doing so), you might notice certain new habits taking over temporarily. Once of them is the famous one: eating. Along with other ones pop up, like chewing the caps from pens (until they are 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 ought to be recommended in support groups: playing video games.

It really is probably arguable that the total sensory connection with playing a gaming contributes in distracting the player from alternative activities like smoking (or socializing… kidding!), but I believe that the controller is the key. Keeping both hands fully occupied and working hastily enables you to just forget about holding a cigarette.

website why not? People tend 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 and energy to drink a beer, have a smoke and watch a movie!

Video games are down-time too, but never let for a half-hearted relationship with them. I remember when I’d play games like Halo 3 online, discussing strategies with friends and controlling my Spartan Soldier. I was much too engaged with the overall game to smoke (or use the bathroom, for that matter!). In fact, when I’d light a cigarette between matches, I would take my first puff and put it down, once we would already be back the firefight. By enough time I reached for my cigarette again, nothing remained save a long log of ash, burning off in the ashtray. That’s a powerful moment to notice; I had made my choice. That wouldn’t be the last cigarette I ever endured. But it wouldn’t be the last time I ignored them in favor of playing video games, either.

Playing video games isn’t a magical solution, and there are a lot of 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 help 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 very best part is once you easily justify your PSP purchase, using the amount of cigarettes you’re not buying). When I’d return from work and settle down for the evening, I would lie on my back bed doing offers. That worked ideal for me, when i was in even less of a posture to reach for a cigarette, and even more relaxed than normal. Having said that, I think a stronger case could be made for taking your portable on the go, as it’s designed for. Now you’re waiting for the subway or sitting throughout your lunch break at the job, and you’re focusing on your game, with no free hands or time to smoke. Try reading the newspaper instead, or worse, just standing or sitting there. Smoking can be a lot more tempting.

I can’t stress the significance 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 portion of the appeal. So, when our hands are busy, we have been less inclined to be holding a cigarette. Playing read more of your body arguably a lot more than worries does. When driving, you have one free hand to smoke with. Also, most people drive the same roads ad nauseam, also it largely becomes a mindless activity, second nature even. In contrast, video gaming frequently change things up, producing new challenges and garnering your full attention merely to master (and even survive) them.