Quitting smoking isn’t just about breaking a habit—it’s about rewiring the mind, challenging the body, and outlasting the cravings that have dictated my daily routine for years. Over the past week, I’ve made serious progress. By spacing out the time between cigarettes, I’ve cut down from three packs a day to one. That’s a huge victory, but now, I’m hitting a wall.
The plan is to get down to half a pack a day within the next few days and then prepare to quit entirely. But the further I stretch the gaps between cigarettes, the more I feel the anxiety and withdrawal creeping in. Mornings are still the hardest—when I wake up, the first thing my brain demands is two or three cigarettes, and delaying that urge feels like a mental tug-of-war. It’s not just about physical cravings; it’s the deeply ingrained routine that fights back the hardest.
I can’t help but compare this to a marathon runner hitting "the wall"—that moment where the body screams to stop, but pushing through is the only way forward. The key is finding the mental strength to keep moving, even when it feels impossible. Tonight, I have my smoking cessation class, so I plan to bring this up with the instructor and see if they have strategies for pushing past this plateau.
Today’s Progress: I’m holding steady at one pack a day, which is still a significant cut from where I started. My confidence is strong, and my determination remains intact. If I stay on track, I’m hopeful I’ll be completely smoke-free by the time I sell my books at WonderCon at the end of March.
One step at a time, spacing out the time between cigarettes. The wall is there, but I know I can break through.
by Dan and Bonkers
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