In somewhat recent years, t here was a campaign of anti-smoking commercials from BecomeAnEx.org, and I loved them. It had been the 1st time I felt like someone really discovered the trick to quitting smoking, and offered it from the sympathetic perspective, with a feeling of humor and a sincere need to help smokers.

I've seen many commercials against smoking over time. Somehave tried fighting cigarettes by unveiling statistics about smoking and its own industry, with this self-righteous "look how clever we have been" approach that is rather alienating. It's like being told to give up smoking by a person who is more invested in their marketing pitch compared to the problem at hand.

And then there have been the deluge of "scare tactic" commercials that show you blackened lungs and people coping with tracheotomies. While I think these commercials hold some worth, they're more likely to provide a smoker pause, rather than actually helping them to quit. Our selective memory kicks in, and kicks out the bad ones.

These campaign, however, nailed the essence of the smoking problem in several brief moments. It pointed out that smoking is strongly linked to habitual behavior; you smoke with your morning cup of coffee, during your morning routine, or during happy hour at the bar. These commercials suggested that one could relearn most of these activities without a cigarette. The one about happy hour even suggested you "keep a beer in one hand and not a cigarette in the other". That is smart advice.

Physical addiction of nicotine is nothing in comparison with the mental addiction of smoking. This is the reason wearing a patch doesn't instantly repair the problem; a smoker still really wants to hold and smoke a cigarette. Mental addiction is king. I was quite lucky; I gradually quit smoking simply because I had not been enjoying it anymore, and that managed to get far easier to leave. But some of that habitual smoking through association was still rearing its ugly head. Removing those last few lines of defense can be the hardest.

Once you quit cigarettes (or are in the process of doing so), you may notice certain new habits taking over temporarily. Once of them is the famous one: eating. And other ones pop up, like chewing the caps from pens (until they're completely unrecognizable). However, one activity that interfered with my smoking was entirely by chance, yet so effective at keeping my body and mind off of smoking, it should be recommended in support groups: playing video games.

It is probably arguable that the total sensory connection with playing a video game contributes in distracting the ball player from alternative activities like smoking (or socializing... kidding!), but I believe that the controller is the key. Keeping both of your hands fully occupied and working hastily makes you forget about holding a cigarette.

And why not? People have a tendency to smoke the most if they are unoccupied, bored and feeling lazy. People smoke on their breaks. People smoke at their laptops and throughout a football game on television. It's down-time, time and energy to drink a beer, have a smoke watching a movie!

Video games are down time too, but never let for a half-hearted relationship using them. I remember when I would play games like Halo 3 online, discussing strategies with friends and controlling my Spartan Soldier. I was much too engaged with the game to smoke (or use the bathroom, for that matter!). In fact, when I would light up a cigarette between matches, I would take my first puff and put it down, as we would already be back the firefight. By the time I reached for my cigarette again, nothing remained save an extended log of ash, burning off in the ashtray. That is clearly a powerful moment to notice; I had made my choice. That wouldn't function as last cigarette I ever endured. But it wouldn't be the last time I ignored them and only playing video games, either.

Playing video games is not a magical solution, and there are lots of variables when quitting smoking, which means that your mileage can vary greatly. I already wanted to stop smoking, but video gaming helped by running interference, and it helped to help keep me occupied once I stop smoking entirely.

Around this time, I was spending a good deal of my gaming time with portable systems, like the DS Lite and the PSP (the best part is once you easily justify your PSP purchase, using the amount of cigarettes you're not buying). When I'd return from work and settle down for the evening, I would lie on my back in bed doing offers. That worked ideal for me, as I was in even less of a position to reach for a cigarette, and much more relaxed than normal. That said, I believe a stronger case could be made for taking your portable on the run, as it's intended for. Now you're looking forward to the subway or sitting throughout your lunch break at the job, and you're working on your game, without free hands or time to smoke. Try reading the newspaper instead, or worse, just standing or sitting there. Smoking will become a lot more tempting.

I can't stress the importance enough of video gaming occupying your hands. While Freud would likely reveal smoking is an oral fixation (see: eating, chewing pen caps), we hold a cigarette inside our hands; it is section of the appeal. So, when our hands are busy, we are less inclined to be holding a cigarette. Playing a game engages the upper 1 / 2 of your body arguably more than worries does. When driving, you have one free hand to smoke with. Also, most people drive exactly the same roads ad nauseam, and it largely becomes a mindless activity, second nature even. In contrast, video games frequently change things up, producing new challenges and garnering your full attention merely to master (and also survive) them.