Rescue things to do when craving!

In my last article I have written about Psychology for Dummies #5: Addictions and Bad Habits.

If you want to quit a bad habit or an addiction, you might need some ideas for activities what to do when you are craving!

The most effective way to fight craving is using your senses (smell, taste, hearing, seeing and feeling) as intensive as you can and getting your mind really focused on something else.

Keep in mind that craving is a sign of you being vulnerable in that specific moment. To prevent craving you need to be aware of yourself and your basic needs. If you are tired, hungry or feeling restless, you should focus on fulfilling these needs with priority!

The best way is to pick 3 to 4 or even more things of the list, don't stick to just one. It's important that you keep your mind busy for at least half an hour, better longer!

Get inspired of the list!

Categorie 1: Minor Craving

1. Go for a walk in the nature.
2. Get away from the trigger situation!
3. Try a sudoku.
4. Listen to music.
5. Talk to someone.
6. Meditate.
7. Get some rest.
8. Try to paint a human eye.
9. Do it yourself manicure or pedicure.
10. Watch a movie/series.
11. Chew some menthol chewing gum.
12. Eat something delicious and try to explain your sensations to someone who never ate anything like that before.
13. Take a new way home or to work.
14. Sit on a bench for a while and count the birds.
15. Walk in the rain without a raincoat.
16. Start a conversation with someone you don't really know and try to get to know the person.
17. Go into a new shop or supermarket
18. Walk the other way round in a supermarket
19. Clean the windows of your home
20. Write a list of fun facts you want to look up.

Categorie 2: Medium Craving

1. Brush your teeth with menthol toothpaste.
2. Drink a fresh ginger tea.
3. Drink a big glass of water.
4. Do something active.
5. Have a massage.
6. Do a puzzle.
7. Play a mind game (name a list of animals always beginning with the last letter of the one named before: crocodile, elephant, tiger, rat,...).
8. Calculate in your head.
9. Take a nap.
10. Do someone a favour.
11. Eat something and drink a big glass of water.
12. Read about motivational characters and write down what you like about them.
13. Confront yourself with the reason why you want to change
14. Write a poem or a short story
15. Play a role game (fake character) and get to talk to someone
16. Try out a different hairstyle for the day.
17. Learn a few words Chinese or Japanese.
18. Create your own soap or jam.
19. Bake cupcakes or cookies for your loved ones.
20. Write down your bucket list.

Categorie 3: Inside burning

1. Eat a Chili Pepper or Chili sauce.
2. Eat very strong liquorice.
3. Have a very cold shower.
4. Use some aromatic oil behind your ears.
5. Put your feet in an ice bucket.
6. Wax your legs.
7. Punch into a mattress as strong as you can for a few minutes.
8. Use some tiger balm underneath your nose.
9. Massage your feet.
10. Go for a run.
11. Plan your next vacation.
12. Dance to your favourite childhood music.
13. Go to a zoo.
14. Call a friend or other rescue person.
15. Take a few deep breaths and say self-confident to yourself "I can do that"!

Categorie 4: Dream Craving (yes, it happens!)

1. Write down immediately what happened in keywords and then burn the paper in a safe place.
2. Have a cold shower in the morning
3. Remember yourself it's a dream not reality!
4. Do everything as usual, don't overestimate the dream! It's actually a good sign that your brain is hard working on this topic while you are unconscious!

These are just a few ideas, but maybe they help you to get ideas on your own! Get started and create your own rescue list of rescue craving activities 😉! Some things need preparing, that's why it's always good to have some useful stuff in a rescue box at home or at work, just in case you might need them 😊.

I hope you got a little bit out of it. Share your feelings about this post, write a comment or have a look at the other **Psychology for Dummies posts" as well 😊.

Psychology for Dummies #1: Overcoming fears

Psychology for Dummies #2: Logic of fear

Psychology for Dummies #3: Emotional fears are camouflaged thoughts

Psychology for Dummies #4: Feeling not good enough

Psychology for Dummies #5: Addictions and Bad Habits

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