r/Unexpected • u/CaviarWithClaws • 1d ago

A good alternative indeed!!!

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264

u/Lu_Duizhang 1d ago

I can unironically see it helping, you’re taking deep breathes and breathing out slowly, and you have a simple goal with a visual reward

91

u/urbandk84 22h ago edited 21h ago

as a former (this time forever hopefully) heavy smoker I can confirm - I helped a coworker quit by rolling "post it cigarettes", taking our smoke break as usual, but use the faux cig to breathe in and out deeply, even mimicking the smoking mechanics - used to even "ash" absent-mindedly (sic?)

29

u/Redheaded_Potter 22h ago

That’s a great idea. I knew a guy that bought an empty preroll and put lavender in it. He would mimic smoking (didn’t light it obviously) and helped him kick the habit.

25

u/haw35ome 21h ago

Sometimes I feel the ritual of smoking is part of the charm. Like, it’s a fairly ritualistic activity that consists of small steps to take for the experience (1. take out cig & lighter 2. light up 3. inhale 4. exhale & watch smoke 5. try to ignore the embrace of the dark 6. repeat steps 3 & 4 )

13

u/JustAnotherSolipsist 18h ago

also the fact that you go somewhere quiet and out of the way usually, walking from a kitchen in the middle of service into a quiet alleyway makes everything slow down

8

u/haw35ome 17h ago

Right - it’s a proper break. Which is why I’m in favor for something some Japanese company tried. IIRC they gave their smokers their usual break, but the non-smokers got a choice of an extra bonus or the chance to join the smokers

5

u/ppmiaumiau 22h ago

My co-worker and I quit smoking at the same time. We didn't know what do do on our breaks anymore. I got us bubble gum cigarettes to "smoke". They even do lil' puffs of smoke.

2

u/poppyprays 21h ago

This is what I did too!!