Once a smoker makes the shift to ex-smoker after three days, the cravings will lessen and the idea of smoking will slowly start to fade. Certain triggers will cause cravings; behaviors and rituals will act as reminders for your old smoking patterns. The best way to combat these triggers is to change your rituals; if you normally have a cigarette with your morning coffee, change the way you drink your morning cup of joe. Instead of drinking it at the kitchen table, take your coffee with you in an insulated mug, or simply move to another room in the house. Small changes will help you avoid triggering cravings.
Many behavioral psychiatrists assert that new behaviors are established after about twenty-one days, or three weeks. Within that short amount of time, one thing is certain; after three weeks without nicotine, the cravings will decrease, the senses of smell and taste will improve, and ex-smokers will begin to enjoy the benefits of a smoke-free, healthy lifestyle.