At one point several years ago, I found a list of “things to do instead of smoking” posted somewhere, and I re-posted it on my quit-smoking support forum. Forum members added more ideas to the list, and it grew until it became the current version:
127 Things to Do Instead of Smoking
- Call a friend
- Walk your dog
- Go skiing
- Read a book
- Take a walk
- Join a health club
- Write a poem
- Volunteer
- Go on a picnic
- Play volleyball
- Clean your closet
- Go Bowling
- Eat a fruit
- Take dance lessons
- Learn a new sport
- Take a hot shower
- Start a daily journal
- Have a barbecue
- Count to 10
- Chew gum
- Pick wild flowers
- Cook a new recipe
- Rent a movie
- Take a nap
- Play cards
- Work on your car
- Get a massage
- Surf the Internet
- Take an art class
- Play tennis
- Plan a trip
- Listen to the rain
- Play a video game
- Cook your favorite meal
- Go see a play
- Write a letter
- Drink a glass of water
- Buy a plant
- Go to the park
- Eat sunflower seeds
- Call an old friend
- Smile
- Go hiking
- Watch the clouds
- Eat popcorn
- Relax in a hot tub
- Go to a pet store
- Go swimming
- Chew on black licorice
- Take a long bubble bath
- Go skating
- Go to the zoo
- Take an aerobics class
- Buy yourself flowers
- Do a crossword puzzle
- Start a craft project
- Learn how to play an instrument
- Do your laundry
- Read the newspaper
- Paint
- Watch a thunderstorm
- Stretch
- Play miniature golf
- Work on your computer
- Learn Yoga or Tai Chi
- Send a card to a friend
- Play a board game
- Go out with friends
- Sing with a song on the radio
- Learn how to golf
- Eat a sucker
- Call a relative
- Vacuum
- Relax in a hammock
- Play with your dog or cat
- Paint your nails
- Go running
- Drive go-carts
- Watch a sunset
- Learn Karate
- Suck on a flavored toothpick
- Build a snowman
- Visit a historical site
- Brush your teeth
- Play soccer
- Go to the batting cages
- Go window shopping
- Smell flowers
- Join a group
- Go to the lake
- Treat yourself to a fruit smoothie
- Volunteer at a school
- Take a trip to the Grand Canyon
- Go horseback riding
- Wash your car
- Practice deep breathing exercises
- Use mouthwash
- Play basketball
- See a musical
- Take a drive
- Start a new hobby
- Listen to your favorite tape or CD
- Watch the sunrise
- Online window shopping
- Get a manicure
- Get a pedicure
- Pet a puppy
- Bake a cake
- Make cookies
- Clean out a drawer
- Do sit-ups and/or pushups
- Jump rope
- Do jumping jacks
- Blow soap bubbles
- Blow bubblegum bubbles
- Solve a sudoku puzzle
- Clean out the refrigerator
- Go to the library
- Pray
- Gut it out – just plain no smoking!
- Alphabetize your spice rack
- Do the Hokey-Pokey
- Look for money in all your old purses
- Go for a long car ride and sing with the radio – loudly
- Go fishing – throw em back!
- Wash the rest of those smelly smokey things
- Find things around the house you can give away for charity
Got Any More Ideas?
If you suggest more ideas in the comments, I’ll add them to the list. Let’s see how big we can make this thing!
You could….braid your hair.