Everyone now understands the health risks resulting from smoking, but stopping can still be extremely difficult. If you want to stop smoking, you might just need a push to get you on the right path. The tips in this article will help you have an easier time quitting.
Take each day one at a time. The road to stopping is just a process. Don’t worry about tomorrow, next month or even next year. Focus on getting through this day. From time-to-time, also remind yourself that if you can get through today, getting through tomorrow will be that much easier.
Write down reasons why you should quit to increase the chances that you actually do quit. Putting the issue in writing will help you to see it more clearly. This can help you stay motivated, and may make quitting easier.
Make sure to get adequate sleep while you try to stop smoking. The longer you stay up, the more cravings you’ll face. Many times, there is nobody around during late night hours, which makes it easier to sneak in a couple puffs. So, make sure you get at least eight hours of sleep every night so that your body and mind are well rested and able to tackle your smoking addiction head on.
Look for a support group to help you quit smoking. The best groups have a mix of new quitters, and people who have quit for a while. Talking to your peers will help you to find new techniques for fighting cravings, have emotional support and find new non-smoking friends. People with experience quitting, or going through the same thing as you, can offer their own tips and advice. You can find support groups in places like recreational centers, churches, or community colleges.
Speak with a doctor if you are trying to stop smoking but are coming across difficulty. There are medications, such as certain antidepressants, which require a prescription that can help you get through the trials and tribulations of quitting. Your doctor can probably also steer you toward other resources, like support groups or hotlines, that can help you quit for good.
Make a list and itemize all the methods you will use to make this lofty goal. Customize this list to your life and needs, in order to stop effectively. There are typically many different ways for accomplishing any given goal, and the people vary in which of these ways will be most effective for them. It is important to find out which strategy is best suited for you. Making a list for yourself of your own methods will help you reach your goal.
Going cold turkey to quit smoking isn’t the smartest idea, try and get supplements to help you along the way, things like nicotine patches or gum. These over-the-counter medications supply your body with nicotine while you work to break the habit, which can help you stave off the worst of the physical withdrawal symptoms.
Concentrate on each day as it comes to help you stop smoking. Don’t think about quitting forever; instead focus on today. You’ll feel like you’ve achieved more by celebrating every single day you don’t smoke. As you get further along, you can start to lengthen your goals.
Giving up tobacco will benefit your loved ones, and yourself. Secondhand smoke can cause various dangerous health conditions, and diseases like cancer. The sooner you stop smoking, the sooner your loved ones will be free from the risks associated with inhaling secondhand smoke while they’re in your presence. So, both you and your loved ones can live healthier due to your decision to quit smoking.
If you absolutely must have a cigarette now, try delaying it for a while. Try to distract your mind and your body for 10 minutes by going for a walk or calling a friend; in this time your urge will probably have passed. If not, repeat this step as often as needed.
Make sure you tell your friends and family that you are quitting smoking. The people who care about you will remind you of your need to quit. You are most likely to be successful at quitting if you put this kind of support in place. This will boost your chances of finally being smoke free for life.
If you are not able to quit cold turkey, look into products made specifically for aiding the process. These include gum and patches. You can buy these products over the counter. They allow you to get your daily dose of nicotine and work toward getting rid of this habit without suffering from withdrawal symptoms.
Set up an incentive plan for yourself. When you reach one of your goals, reward yourself. Write down a list of rewards you will allow yourself when you have stopped smoking for a day, a week and a month. Post the list in a noticeable place where you will be able to see it each day. Seeing your future rewards may give you that extra bit of motivation you need when you are feeling weak.
When you are trying to quit smoking, you need to make sure that you are avoiding any triggers that will make you want a cigarette. If you often smoked in your car, then create a new driving habit like listening to a book on tape or making a motivational driving playlist. This will help you to remove the associations these habits have with smoking. Try to use other things to distract your thoughts, if you are thinking about smoking.
Come up with a way to maintain your motivation by keeping it in mind and in sight constantly. You can do this by putting messages on the wall to remind yourself of the goals that you set. No matter what you decide, having a visual reminder will help keep temptations and cravings at bay
When you’re quitting smoking, give yourself rewards for each milestone you pass along the way. You can go to a movie or buy something that you wanted, after not smoking for a period of time. When you make it a whole month without smoking, dine out at a restaurant you really enjoy. This will help to increase motivation for your reward in an effort to eliminate smoking from your thoughts.
Use the Internet to find support. Participate in online support groups. There are hundreds of useful websites that are dedicated to furthering your goals of smoking cessation. It might be helpful and informative for you to compare different quitting methods with other people. It can also help to have the support of people who know exactly what you are going through.
Quit Smoking
Get a workout in. Exercising can make quitting smoking much more attractive when you notice the immediate improvement of lung capacity. This can also help you to reduce potential weight gain. Exercise will also give you a subtle rush via natural endorphins.
Motivation and positive thinking can be very helpful in helping you quit smoking. Think positively about how your life is going to be so much better once you quit smoking. Think about how much better your breath will be, how clean your teeth will be, or how much better your house will smell. For some people, scare tactics are not an effective means of support; instead, a positive outlook and support system is far more effective.
Eliminate items, smells or behaviors that trigger memories of smoking. Throw out or give away all your lighters and ashtrays. Clean everything in your home and wash your clothes to get rid off all hints of the smoke smell. Doing these things will make it less likely that you will be reminded about smoking and wind up with a cigarette craving.
Seek support online. The Internet contains a variety of sites dedicated to assisting smokers cease their habit. It may be helpful or even cathartic to share quitting frustrations and successes with others who understand your struggle. Also, other quitters next to you can help you see everyone’s struggles through this journey.
Smoking is often used as an aid to getting through stressful events. If you do this, it will really help to find some good relaxation techniques to use when you are feeling stress start to build up. Consider yoga, meditation or even enjoying a walk outdoors. Any of these activities can help you to relax, easing your body and mind away from feeling stressed.
Plan in advance how you are going to respond to stress without turning to cigarettes. Most smokers use cigarettes to calm themselves during stressful moments. If you possess a backup plan of options available, you will be less likely to light up. Keep a list of several distractions that you can use in case one doesn’t work.
Many people have discovered that counseling can help them to stop smoking. There are often emotional reasons that contribute to a person’s smoking habit. Once you deal with the issue at hand, it may be easier for you to quit. If counseling is of interest to you, speak with your physician for a referral.
Make a no smoking mantra. Though you may be tempted to smoke during times of stress, do not allow those urges to undo your hard work. Tell yourself the dangers that taking that one puff can do. This may stop you in your tracks and make it possible to fight off the craving.
If you are craving a cigarette, try deep breathing. This will let you refocus for a minute, and you can remember why you wanted to quit. Filling your lungs with oxygen will allow you to feel reinvigorated. Deep breathing can be done anywhere and at any time.
Don’t decide to quit “someday.” Do it today. Decide to quit today instead of setting your quit date in the future. When you quit, you are reducing the risk of having adverse health affects. This is also stops you from hurting others with secondhand smoke, especially those closest to you.
Keep track on your habits when it comes to smoking. Figure out the times when you find yourself most tempted to have a cigarette, and tailor your plan so that it addresses these temptations. Being prepared for your cravings for tobacco will allow you to prepare in advance for them and resist the temptation to smoke.
Quitting Smoking
When you finally decide to stop smoking, you have to have the determination to not give up. Most people have finally stopped smoking have several failed attempts in their past. Try not to fall back into smoking but if you do, quit smoking again.
Eliminating a smoking habit entirely can often be a difficult task but with a little advice, that task might become a bit easier. By following the tips here, you should find it easier to gain a foothold and move towards quitting smoking for good. Use these suggestions to help you finally commit to quitting smoking for your own health as well as the health of those around you.
To keep yourself from feeling agitated while quitting smoking, try nicotine replacement therapy. Nicotine delivery methods include gum and patches and both can effectively prevent nicotine withdrawals associated with the first several days of quitting smoking. Once you quit the habit of smoking cigarettes, you’ll be able to wean off the nicotine as well.