The Quitter's Checklist

Quitting is almost always associated with losing or not trying hard enough. But quitting is not necessarily bad.

In fact, when you quit an addiction, you become a winner.

Wikipedia defines addiction as a recurring compulsion by an individual to engage in some specific activity, despite harmful consequences to the individual's health, mental state or social life.

Common addictions include smoking, alcohol, drugs, shopping, gambling, etc.

In my case, it was to Coke Light. I quit August 2007 and I've been soda-free since then.

What follows is a list of tips and tricks to combat addiction.

Acknowledge the problem. Be true to yourself and face the situation. Denial promotes addiction.

List the pros and cons. Enumerate the benefits and risks of continuing your addiction. Beside it, draw up a similar list about the pros and cons of quitting.

Set a quit date. Choose a time when you are relatively stress-free to quit. Oftentimes, we use our addictions to cope with stress. It's easier to stay motivated to quit when relaxed.

Avoid triggers. Find out what situations predispose your addiction. If you're a compulsive shopper, get rid of your credit card. If meeting friends in a bar trigger you to smoke, consider other venues. In my case, it was the constant availability of Coke Light. I asked my family to refrain from buying it.

Be prepared. Anticipate situations where you might be faced with the addiction. When going to the mall, leave your credit card at home or bring only enough money if you're guilty of overspending. I know that in some areas, water may not be readily available or safe to drink. I bring my own water so as not to be tempted to resort to Coke Light.

Consider alternatives. Addictions are stress-busters but so are other activities. Instead of spending the day in the mall, go to the park instead if you're a compulsive spender. Walk instead of sitting in front of the TV and overeating.

Keep yourself busy. It's easy to miss an addiction when you're idle. Cross-stitching may be a deterrent to smoking or overeating as it keeps you busy and with the desire to keep your hands clean.

Surround yourself with support. Inform family and friends of your decision. Stay away from individuals who don't support your initiative. When you are strong and motivated enough, rekindle these relationships.

Reward yourself. Each day you stay away from your addiction is something to be happy about. Give yourself a pat in the back. Or give yourself something. Like a new dress if you've been successful controlling overeating and have lost weight.

Bounce back. If in case you fail and resume your addiction, don't take that as license to stop quitting or as a sign of failure. Start over.

This post is part of the group writing project on lists started by Luciano Passuello of Litemind.

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