Want to successfully quit smoking? Then try seeing yourself as a non-smoker. In a study conducted in Leiden, researchers found that people who continued to identify as smokers — even after quitting — were more likely to relapse.
People tend to behave in ways that match their identity. If someone sees themselves as healthy, they are more likely to engage in healthy behavior. The same applies the other way around: if someone still identifies as a “smoker,” they are more likely to exhibit smoking-related behavior. That’s why relapse is more common in those who haven’t changed how they see themselves.
Quitting an addiction is a challenge. There are physical withdrawal symptoms, but also the psychological transformation. Quitting is experienced as stressful. Smoking is a habit, nicotine is physically addictive, smokers often form their own social circles, and it’s hard to shift one’s identity.
That’s why it’s important to address all the factors when trying to quit. Often, people use nicotine replacement therapy or try to substitute cigarettes with a new habit. But rarely are all aspects tackled at once: breaking the habit, replacing the social moment, and transforming identity. That’s why it’s wise to quit with the help of a coach — and maybe even with a group. January is a great time, since many others are also quitting then.
And remember: you are a non-smoker.