15 tips for driving or riding in a car... to ensure you continue to break your habits
Are you trying to change habits but find that everyday life gets in the way? It can sometimes be the things that you do as part of your everyday routine that are the trigger points that you need to identify and deal with to ensure that you continue with your journey to change habits.
When you are driving a car or traveling as a passenger you can expect to forget that you are trying to change habits and automatically reach for a cigarette or start to bite your nails. You may have become used to continuing your habit while driving-to relax in a traffic jam, as a means to relieve stress, pass the time or to stay alert on a long drive
Your desire to smoke, nail bite or eat may be stronger and more frequent on longer trips as there is more time spent in the car. On these longer trips, you may find yourself getting more sleepy than usual when you are habit breaking as your usual techniques to keep yourself alert are the very things you want to stop.
In order to make your habit change work you can try some, or all, of these actions to allow you to drive or ride in a car without resorting to your habit:
Action steps
1. Tell yourself:
"This urge will go away in a few minutes."
"So, I'm not enjoying this car ride. Big deal! It won't last forever!"
"My car smells clean and fresh!"
"I'm a better driver now that I'm not smoking or nail biting while driving."
2. If you're not driving, find something to do with your hands. Be the navigator and keep your hands occupied with a map.
3. Take an alternate route to work. A change in scenery could be used to distract you from your usual routine of resorting to your habit while driving.
4. Try carpooling.
5. Try biking to work. It's tricky (not to mention dangerous!) to bike with one hand in traffic.
6. Try walking to work. Consider carrying some light hand weights.
7. Take public transport. No smoking allowed!
8. For a little while, avoid taking long car trips. If you do, take plenty of rest stops.
9. Keep non-fattening snacks in your car (sunflower seeds, licorice, and sugarless gum and hard candy).
10. Take fresh fruit with you on long trips.
11. Plan stops for water or fruit juice.
12. Turn your radio on or put on your favourite tape or CD and sing along. Distraction is a great trick when you have a habit to break.
Action steps for smokers
13. Clean your car and make sure to use deodorisers to reduce the tobacco smell.
14. Remove the ashtray, lighter, and cigarettes from your car.
15. Ask friends and passengers not to smoke in your car.
There is some evidence that smoking actually does make you feel more awake and alert. In the past, you may have relied upon this during both short and long rides. Remember, on longer trips, you may not be able to stay awake for as long as you used to.
Once you have pinpointed high-risk situations that trigger the urge to continue your habit while driving or riding in a car, you can start to handle such situations rationally. Jumping into your car and starting your normal routine provides plenty of triggers to tempt you to continue your habit. Recognising those triggers is the first step to avoiding them and being successful in your goal to change habits.
When you are driving a car or traveling as a passenger you can expect to forget that you are trying to change habits and automatically reach for a cigarette or start to bite your nails. You may have become used to continuing your habit while driving-to relax in a traffic jam, as a means to relieve stress, pass the time or to stay alert on a long drive
Your desire to smoke, nail bite or eat may be stronger and more frequent on longer trips as there is more time spent in the car. On these longer trips, you may find yourself getting more sleepy than usual when you are habit breaking as your usual techniques to keep yourself alert are the very things you want to stop.
In order to make your habit change work you can try some, or all, of these actions to allow you to drive or ride in a car without resorting to your habit:
Action steps
1. Tell yourself:
"This urge will go away in a few minutes."
"So, I'm not enjoying this car ride. Big deal! It won't last forever!"
"My car smells clean and fresh!"
"I'm a better driver now that I'm not smoking or nail biting while driving."
2. If you're not driving, find something to do with your hands. Be the navigator and keep your hands occupied with a map.
3. Take an alternate route to work. A change in scenery could be used to distract you from your usual routine of resorting to your habit while driving.
4. Try carpooling.
5. Try biking to work. It's tricky (not to mention dangerous!) to bike with one hand in traffic.
6. Try walking to work. Consider carrying some light hand weights.
7. Take public transport. No smoking allowed!
8. For a little while, avoid taking long car trips. If you do, take plenty of rest stops.
9. Keep non-fattening snacks in your car (sunflower seeds, licorice, and sugarless gum and hard candy).
10. Take fresh fruit with you on long trips.
11. Plan stops for water or fruit juice.
12. Turn your radio on or put on your favourite tape or CD and sing along. Distraction is a great trick when you have a habit to break.
Action steps for smokers
13. Clean your car and make sure to use deodorisers to reduce the tobacco smell.
14. Remove the ashtray, lighter, and cigarettes from your car.
15. Ask friends and passengers not to smoke in your car.
There is some evidence that smoking actually does make you feel more awake and alert. In the past, you may have relied upon this during both short and long rides. Remember, on longer trips, you may not be able to stay awake for as long as you used to.
Once you have pinpointed high-risk situations that trigger the urge to continue your habit while driving or riding in a car, you can start to handle such situations rationally. Jumping into your car and starting your normal routine provides plenty of triggers to tempt you to continue your habit. Recognising those triggers is the first step to avoiding them and being successful in your goal to change habits.
Source...