You’ll oftentimes hear that quitting smoking isn’t easy, but this is usually a result of not understanding the best way to approach it. Just like anything else, the more informed you are, the greater your chances of success you will have. The advice that follows will assist anyone with quitting smoking.
Make your attempts as manageable as possible. Quitting cold turkey is definitely not recommended. There’s a huge chance you’ll fail if you use this method. Because nicotine is so addicting, a patch, medication, or therapy may be helpful. You’ll be better equipped to make it through withdrawal and quit smoking permanently.
Make a list of the benefits of quitting and the drawbacks to deciding to quit. This helps increase the odds of successfully and permanently kicking your smoking habit. Just by creating the list, you’ll perk up your mood. By making this list, you can spark your interest and motivation in quitting, and help you focus on quitting so that you can more easily stop smoking.
If you feel you have to smoke a cigarette, then try to put off your first one as long as possible. Set tasks that you commit to performing prior to that cigarette, including small things such as going on a walk or making a fruit juice smoothie. By the time you get done, you may have the willpower to say no. If you do end up giving in anyway, at least that was a little longer that you were able to be smoke-free.
If you are sincere in your effort to quit, find a support group and stick with them. It can be helpful to you to speak to people who know what you’re going through, who also can identify with the physical and emotional strain you may be experiencing. These people can support you through the hardest times with guidance, and coping tips. There may be a support group for people who are trying to quit in your community. Look at places such as community colleges or churches.
Let your family and friends know if you plan to quit smoking. When you trust those around you with information like this, they can help keep you motivated, as well as keeping temptation at bay. A supportive group of loved ones can give you the push you need to stick to your plans for quitting.
If smoking a cigarette is something you cannot avoid, at least try and stall for time before lighting up. For example, require yourself to take a long stroll before you give in and have a smoke. If nothing else, pour yourself a big iced tea and promise yourself to finish drinking it first. Sometimes, these delaying tactics provide enough time for the craving to pass before you ever light up. If you do go ahead and smoke, the delay may at least reduce your smoking for that day.
You should worry about going through one day after another. Take your journey day by day, focusing on the moment instead of the future. Having a shorter time horizon makes it easier physically and mentally. You can always increase your goals and time horizon when you are ready.
Start exercising. Not only will it help you get into shape, it can help you stay busy and avoid cigarettes. A good workout also eases a lot of the stress out of your day. If exercising wasn’t already a regular part of your life, then start with an occasional walk. Speak to your physician before beginning an exercise routine.
While quitting smoking, rest as often as possible. Some find that they crave cigarettes more when they stay up late. Late nights may also be tempting times to sneak a cigarette, especially if the rest of your house is asleep. Eight hours of sleep each night will allow you to remain mentally focused, which keeps you in better control of nasty cravings.
If you are finding it difficult to stop smoking, speak to a doctor. There are a growing number of medical aids, such as antidepressants, that can help you quit with much less discomfort. Your doctor may also be able to provide information about support groups, hotlines, or other resources that can improve your chances of successfully quitting.
Talk to your doctor if you plan to quit smoking. Your physician will likely have access to resources that you are unaware of to help you quit. Your doctor may want you on a prescription medicine to help you quit.
Secondhand Smoke
You don’t have to go through this alone. Having loves ones support you will help tremendously. Joining a support group will also boost your chances of succeeding. Simply speaking with other people who have gone through this same battle will give you added incentive to lose the habit.
A benefit of quitting smoking is so you can improve the health of all those near you. Smoking is harmful for you and anyone around you that inhales secondhand smoke, and people can even get cancer from it. This will be devastating over the course of time, as you can expose toxic chemicals through secondhand smoke. That means that your whole family will benefit from you quitting.
While in the process of quitting smoking, allow yourself a reward as you reach certain milestones. For instance, enjoy a movie with a special friend after the first week has gone by. After one tobacco-free month, reserve a spot at a restaurant that you rarely get to enjoy. After this, slowly increase your reward until the point has been reached that you don’t think about smoking anymore.
Let your family and friends know that you plan to quit smoking. They will be there for whatever you need and can remind you of your plans to quit. Using a good support system is beneficial when quitting. Such a system can greatly up your odds of success.
The most important thing to do when you want to stop smoking is to make that initial commitment to the change. To begin your journey, you must simply stop smoking first. Just do it, give up smoking cold turkey and never start up again. It could seem pretty hard. Over time, it’s the most effective method.
Stay as optimistic as possible when developing a regimen to quit smoking. Visualize the improvements you’ll experience in your quality of life once you’re a non-smoker. Turn your focus to your cleaner breath, cleaner teeth, and a fresher smelling home. Thinking about all the good that can happen as a result of quitting can be just as motivational as thinking about the bad.
The first 7 days of quitting are the absolute hardest. In the first two days, your body will release toxins, specifically nicotine, which might give you some unpleasant feelings. Once that is gone, your feelings of craving will stem from psychological causes. While your experience will still likely be difficult to work through, having this knowledge in the back of your mind might make it easier to cope.
If your true goal is to stop smoking, then master the art of quitting. You must stay motivated, as it is possible to fail at first. Stop smoking, and have the mindset that you will stop for as long as possible. If you do start up again, immediately pick a new “quit” date. Just keep at it and try to extend the amount of time you quit, while you learn what triggered you into smoking again each time. Hopefully, you will eventually come to a place that you will quit and it will last forever.
If you don’t quit once, you can always try again. Everyone has the same possibility of giving into the urge to smoke, even those that are very well organized and intensely motivated. Look back and find out what went wrong to learn from your mistakes when you try again. You may find that you conquer an almost identical situation with the right coping mechanisms in the future.
The first step in any plan to stop smoking, is stopping. By stopping, you are taking the most important step you can take. Just try to stop completely and never pick up another cigarette. This method can seem tough. However, this method has been shown to actually be more effective, as time goes by.
Make sure that you speak with a medical professional about different ways to stop smoking. There has been much progress in the realm of smoking cessation. There are many options available to help you stop smoking, and these range from certain medications that help with withdrawal to nicotine replacement therapies. Ask your doctor for recommendations that will help you quit.
To keep yourself motivated, you should think about how your declining health could affect your family. Statistics say that one in five deaths in America alone are tied to smoking cigarettes. Do your best not to become a statistic.
List the motivating factors that make you want to kick the smoking habit. When you are struggling and seeking a reason to stop smoking, take out this list and read it to motivate yourself.
Don’t decide to quit “someday.” Do it today. Don’t set a quitting date for sometime in the future, just make today your day to quit. If you quit today, you immediately lower your risk of getting cancer or other potentially fatal diseases. The quicker you stop smoking, the sooner you free your family from the effects of secondhand smoke. This might be the factor that motivates you the most to stop.
Deep breathing exercises can help you get past a cigarette craving. Use that time to focus on the reasons that you chose to quit. Furthermore, deep breathing increases oxygen intake and encourages you to feel refreshed. Deep breathing can be done anywhere and the techniques are easy to do.
Don’t become discouraged if you fail quitting once. Sometimes, even the perfect plan will fail due to the circumstances. Try to learn something every time you fail. You may be able to succeed in a future attempt.
Don’t go overboard with eating! Don’t try and lose weight the same time you’re trying to quit smoking. However, eat balanced meals as much as possible. Fruits, veggies, and dairy products can taste unpleasant when you smoke. However, by consuming these foods, your health will be boosted while your desire to smoke will be weakened.
By now, the importance of learning more about stopping smoking should be clear. It will be simple to quit once you understand what works. You will be able to stop smoking using the information from this article.
Quitting smoking requires an enormous amount of self-control and determination. A large majority of people that quit smoking for ever have had several previous attempts that were not successful. If you don’t succeed, analyze why you failed and then try again.