re: self-discipline by anonymous questioner

October 22, 2006 09:13 AM

voting has closed for this question

dear internet,
i want to change my bad habits, and to that end i haven't drunk any alcohol for five and a half weeks and not smoked for the better part of that either, and have been running a lot. i want to keep this up.
but tonight i went to a bar, thinking, what the hell, i can handle it, and wound up drinking around 4 mixed drinks and smoking 5 cigarettes. now, i know that this won't kill me, but the fact that i couldn't say no to the cigarettes worries me. i don't want to drink (much) or smoke (at all!!!!!) what should i do?

results 41 votes

continue to avoid bars -- you're obviously still not able to say 'no' (31 votes)
 76%
keep going to bars to, uh, strengthen your will power (4 votes)
 10%
run 10 hours a day as a penalty (i'll prolly do this anyway) (3 votes)
 7%
something else?? (3 votes)
 7%
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comments

  • Victorix says:

    You've really got to do 'One day at a time'. Punishing yourself is not really an answer. You failed yesterday but not today - today, you are succeeding. I would also avoid bars (personally I would anyway).

    Oct 22, 2006 10:24 AM
  • appleblossombeck says:

    If you really want to quit smoking, it's probably worth looking into the many methods of helping yourself do that. My dad quit, and a couple of the things that helped him most were using nicotine gum/patches and relaxation techniques. He quit a couple times actually, and whenever he started smoking again it was always because he got too stressed over something. I'd suggest having a specific relaxation tool ready to deal with stress....but I've never smoked, so what do I know?

    Oct 22, 2006 11:13 AM
  • gomega says:

    See this as a slip-up and continue pursuing your goals. Every day you don't smoke or drink is an accomplishment. It's not the number of days in a row you don't do things, it's the total number of days that counts.

    Oct 22, 2006 11:40 AM
  • Yuri says:

    Punishing yourself is not going to make a difference other than making you feel bad. And you already feel bad. Son't do it.
    Just be stronger next time. Stay away from a pub for a bit, but don't hide forever - fight it!

    Good luck!!

    Oct 22, 2006 05:29 PM
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