You’ve come here to improve your health. It’s constant work on your part to make sure you are successful at quitting smoking. With the choice you’ve made to quit you’re hopefully simultaneously making other healthy choices in lieu of smoking. Exercising more, eating healthier and improving your environment to support a smoke-free lifestyle are probably on your list of things you’re doing to support your quit.
Don’t forget to add hydration with water to that list. The temperature and heat index has been especially hot last week and continuing into this week. Being outside for any period of time, even a short while, can cause heat exhaustion and contribute to dehydration. Perhaps you have always smoked outside or have moved to smoking only outside as you wean yourself off cigarettes. Whatever the case, instead of going outside to smoke in this hot weather, drink a glass or two of water. Most people are guilty of not drinking enough water, including me. Headaches are my first sign of dehydration and I’m always mad at myself when I haven’t taken care of myself. As a bonus, many EX members report that drinking water helps with dealing with triggers, so in addition to staying hydrated, drinking water can help avoid relapses during this season.
How are you going to ensure you’re staying hydrated? Do you have someone you regularly check-in with during hot times of the year? If you don’t have air conditioning, do you have somewhere to go? If you’ve been drinking more water as part of quitting, what benefits have you noticed?
