Know-How Exchange : Customer Behavior

Jasmine, yes, it does take 21 days to break a habit.

My father, his business partner, and I wrote a smoking cessation program that centers around those critical 21 days of forming new habits. Since it takes 21 days to make a habit, it only makes sense it would take another 21 days to make a new habit.

Our program deals with the psychological aspects of smoking, and we get right into changing the mindset of the smoker as well as treating the physical. Our program has been picked up by Wilson Banwell. Wilson Banwell now recommends our program to their clients, as well as administers and teaches our 21 day course for their client's employees.

You can find out more at www.smokefreecanadaclinics.com

Here is a link to a free report that should have some information you may find interesting from Health Canada.

https://www.smokefreecanadaclinics.com/index.php?option=com_remository&Item...

Hope this helps you.

Darcy Moen
Customer Loyalty Network

Here's a detailed answer to your question:

https://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=786165

My fiancée is in the medical field- and quit smoking shortly after we met (I do not smoke).

He did a lot of research when he quit. While yes, it takes 21 days to break a habit-- he read a study that compared quiting smoking comparable to quitting heroin. He's been smoke free 7 months-- and still has a craving every day. I think that is consistent with most addictions. I know people who've gone AA, and they feel the same daily cravings. So while it may take 21 days to break a habit-- it doesn't mean the cravings stop and you arent going to be fighting that demon. For those of us who have never personally experienced addiction-- its very hard to realize this. Its so easy to just say, stop dammit. It goes much deeper than just doing without 21 days.

Sell Well and Prosper tm

I agree. I quit smoking nearly 20 years ago and still have the cravings..

For all you folks who quit smoking but still have cravings, you have overcome the physical addiction to smoking, but have not addressed the psychological aspects of smoking.

Here's a simple test. Do you remember your first cigarette? Mine, I was hacking, coughing, dizzy, ready to toss my cookies. So, what happened between that first smoke, to the point 16 years later where every 20 minutes the monkey would start climbing my back and I just HAD to have that smoke? I'll tell you, I taught myself how to smoke and how to over come all those physiological reactions to smoking until my body accepted, no, DEMANDED that cigarette.

That's the whole point of stopping smoking, learning how to quit. Just as you taught yourself to smoke over 21 days, you can teach yourself to stop smoking, and that includes developing the psychological tools so you remove cravings.

Look, I used to be an early morning smoker, and my trigger was when I sat behind the wheel for the morning drive to work. I used to be so obsessed with this one act that I was absolutely convinced that the car wouldn't start until that cigarette was in the right hand side of my mouth, just off the center of my lips, but not in the corner of my mouth. I just couldn't see my way to turning the key without that cigarette in the perfect position, the place where that cig had always been for 16 years. But, I figured out how to train my body and fool my mind. I bought some Cinnamon sticks and kept them in the ashtray. When I had to start the car, I put a Cinnamon stick in my mouth where the cigarette would go. The car started perfectly, and I could make it to work.

That was just one psychological tool we developed to train people's minds to overcome cravings. There are many, many, many more.

Gee folks, you are almost getting me back into counselling again. How about calling Wilson Banwell and asking them about their programs. https://www.wilsonbanwell.com/corporate/business/bsolutions.htm

Every smoker you have on staff is costing you an additional 2,500 a year in payroll and benefits...and each smoker you can train to quit is a savings. Its money you are going to spend anyway on staff, why not get full value for it and help your staff enjoy a longer, more full quality of life?

Darcy Moen
Smoke Free Canada Clinics

I know that it does take 21 days to form a habit. Since I am a smoker, and have quit before while I was pregnant.. but as soon as I had my children the cravings started again. Last summer I quit for 2 months, but I had weak moment and started smoking again. I don't know what the answer really is how to break the babit. I think it must be mind over matter.

Stephanie