PART 6: Maintaining Your Course

A Day to Remember

Recall the day you quit as a special day. Treat it like you would a birthday or anniversary. Celebrate this day every month for the first 6 months and once a year after that. In a way, it is a re-birth for your body—or a personal “Independence Day!”

As you probably have seen already, getting to this point does not mean you are “done” with quitting. The maintenance phase of quitting means you are working to maintain the change. A really big step has been completed—getting to your first tobacco/nicotine-free day. However, you will need to stay alert for relapse triggers and continue to improve how you respond to stress if you want to stay quit for good.

The maintenance phase of quitting is usually at least 6 months long, but it can take 5 years or longer to truly feel no temptation to go back. You may never feel like you are at 0% temptation, but it will get easier over time. Remember, the time will pass anyway—you choose how you want to spend it.

Today’s Affirmation:

Quitting is freedom. I choose how I want to live my life.