Know Your Limits
If you do drink alcohol, be careful. Limit the amount of alcohol you consume and don’t overdo it. Substitute every other drink with a glass of spring water and lemon. It will dilute the alcohol you’ve consumed, keep you hydrated, and will give you something to sip on while socializing.
Plan an Escape Route
If people are smoking close by and it begins to bother you, have a plan of action in mind. Can you explain that you’ve recently quit smoking and ask them to refrain? If not, excuse yourself for a few minutes and go to the bathroom or step outside for some fresh air. When cravings to smoke hit, the key is to quickly change your focus. Interrupt your thoughts and you’ll snap yourself out of junkie thinking.
Don’t Go
If you’re worried about maintaining your quit program at the holiday party this year, consider simply not going. No, I’m not advocating avoiding life, I’m encouraging you to remember your priorities. Think of it this way…early on, smoking cessation takes a lot of effort and focus for most people. In order to succeed, your quit program must be in the top slot of your priority list for as long as it takes.
If you fear the temptation to drink will be more than you can handle, don’t push yourself. There will be more parties next year. Give yourself the time you need to heal from this addiction. Do the work now to change your relationship to smoking, and the day will come when drinking alcohol no longer triggers the urge to smoke.
If you are unsure if non-alcoholic beverages will be available, bring your own. Stay away from the bar area. If offered a drink, just say, ‘No, thank you.’ You do not have to explain. If there is food available, be sure to eat, so that you are not hungry. If you feel that you are becoming tempted to drink, leave early. Stay busy. Talk to others, dance, etc. Don’t give yourself time to think about the fact that you are not drinking. Don’t drink, no matter what