Many people would like to stop smoking, but they think it is going to be too hard, or that they lack the willpower necessary to stop smoking completely. The information and strategies in this guide will help you take the initial steps you need to take, and you will be able to start working on being smoke free.
Make a list of strategies to help you quit. Customizing and personalizing the list will make it more effective. Each person has a unique way to taking care of things and accomplishing goals. It is important to find out which strategy is best suited for you. Creating this personalized list does just that.
Support Groups
Avoid triggers you associate with smoking when you are trying to quit. Change your behavior, so you aren’t tempted, for example, go to new restaurants that do not allow smoking. Distract yourself with something else at those times.
Support groups can be a great resource once you have firmly decided that you are ready to quit. By getting together with people who are in your shoes, you can share the difficulties you are facing. These people can support you through the hardest times with guidance, and coping tips. Support groups can be found in many places, such as your church, rec center or college, ask around.
The first step toward quitting smoking is the ability to commit yourself to the cause. The most common reason for relapsing is the failure to commit fully to the decision to quit smoking. Remember the reasons that caused you to stop in order to stay motivated.
When you feel the urge for a cigarette, set a certain amount of time that you will make yourself wait. Tell yourself that you have to take a walk before you can smoke, or even just finish a large glass of water before you smoke. By the time you get done, you may have the willpower to say no. Even if you eventually relent, this method can help you to cut back considerably.
As you work on quitting smoking, remember to give yourself a reward every time you hit an important milestone. As an example, go to a movie once you have stopped smoking for a week. Once you’ve passed that month long milestone, enjoy a fancy night out at your favorite restaurant. Build up the rewards until you are completely free of cigarettes.
To quit smoking, try creating a list of ways you can quit. Taking time to customize your personal list, is an excellent help in accomplishing your goal. Everyone will find the techniques that work best for them. It’s vital that you figure out the ways that work best for you. Create your own personalized plan for quitting.
Boost your capacity to deal with nicotine withdrawal, by using healthy methods of coping with its side effect of stress. You could try new hobbies, massage, or strenuous exercise during peak cravings. When you’ve got downtime, distract yourself with friends, books and games, so you don’t think of smoking.
Join a gym or create an exercise routine, not only to get benefits related to your health, but to help you keep away from cigarettes as well. Just getting moving will help you defeat your stress. If you don’t exercise regularly, try to begin slow by taking walks once or twice daily. Speak to your physician before beginning an exercise routine.
Keeping a positive attitude can be the extra motivation to stop smoking. Imagine how your life will improve after you’ve quit smoking. Consider the fact that your breath will not smell as bad, your teeth will look whiter, and your residence will no longer have a smoke odor. Seeing the negatives of smoking can frighten people into quitting, but imagining all the positives can be just as helpful.
Stop Smoking
You’ll get better at quitting each time you do it. Most former smokers will tell you that it was necessary to kick the habit more than once. When you quit smoking, try to refrain from smoking for as long as possible. If you do experience a setback, set a quit date and get back on track. Quit for longer and longer periods of time each time. You will find that you will become better at quitting, and eventually you will quit altogether.
Try to encourage friends and family to support your decision to stop smoking. Make it clear that you need support but that it won’t help if they are judgmental. You will also want to let them know you will most likely be in a lousy mood initially, and you may not exactly think clearly at that time. It is not easy to stop smoking, and you need to have support from your loved ones during this process.
Thoroughly clean your home, car and wardrobe to get rid of the smell of smoke. Have your carpets and furniture cleaned, scrub your walls and wash any fabric window treatments you may have. This will make your home smell clean, and the absence of the smell of the cigarettes will help you avoid being reminded of the habit that has plagued your life anytime you enter your home.
Talk to your doctor about quitting smoking. A physician has access to resources that you do not. Also, if your doctor feels that your situation calls for it, he or she may think it is best for you to take a prescription medication for quitting.
Stay away from trigger activities or symptoms in which you would normally smoke. If you are accustomed to lighting up while you have your first cup of coffee in the morning, or having a smoke while out at happy hour with friends, then change your routine. Switching things up a bit, such as staying away from bars, will make it easier to avoid giving in to your cravings.
To maintain your willpower, despite intense cravings and withdrawal symptoms, look for healthy outlets for your stress. Adopt healthier habits and hobbies such as working out, taking long walks, or listening to music and dancing. Identify things you can do if you have unexpected downtime. Read an engrossing book or call a friend for example.
Get a workout in. Exercising can increase your lung capacity and encourage healing, so start a regular exercise routine as soon as you stop smoking. Regular physical exercise can also help you to keep your body weight under control. Endorphins from exercise can even help with nicotine withdrawal.
Would switching brands help you in your goal? Pick a new brand that you do not like. Pick the nastiest brand you know. Don’t smoke more of them or inhale them differently. This will help you in your efforts to quit.
Try to put quitting in a positive light, as it can serve to be very advantageous to your life. Staying positive helps you keep going when quitting gets difficult and helps you more quickly kick the habit. Remind yourself of how important your task is, and keep in mind that the positive aspects of quitting outweigh the negative ones by a long shot. This will give you a good reason to quit and help with motivation.
Reduce the amount of cigarettes you smoke. This will put you in the right place to quit smoking. You should try to wait an hour in the morning before you smoke. Perhaps smoke only half a cigarette instead of a whole one.
Do some exercise when you feel like smoking. Exercising releases endorphins, which can improve your mood and help you focus on something else than your cravings. Also, when you exercise, your body’s metabolism is offset which can help keep your weight in check because when you quit smoking, your body reacts by decreasing things like your metabolism.
If you want to stop smoking, you need to be okay with quitting more than once. Ask any former smoker you know; he or she probably didn’t succeed after just one attempt. Stop smoking, and plan on avoiding cigarettes for as long as possible before lighting back up. If you do relapse, set a new date to quit again. Just continue to quit and try to stop longer each time, and continue to learn along your journey. Eventually, you will become good at quitting and one time you will quit and never go back.
Talk to your doctor about medications that can be used to help you quit. Take advantage of the different types of drugs and procedures available for quitting smoking. There are a lot of options available to you when you decide to quit smoking, from gum to patches to doctor-prescribed medication to help with the withdrawals. Ask your doctor what they recommend to help you quit for good.
Stopping smoking could be the greatest challenge of your life. However, quitting smoking is not impossible. Of course, it is a process that requires time, perseverance and commitment. The right information and support can make quitting a lot easier. The aforementioned techniques will guide you on your path to a smoke-free life.
Use your reasons for quitting to create an empowering mantra. Anytime you feel a strong craving coming on, repeat this mantra to yourself. This can help you focus on your motivation to quit when cravings are strong.