Many good things will come from the moment you quit smoking. Remember those advantages as you apply helpful tips like these. Print this article and keep it handy to remind you why you quit, how you’re going to stay smoke-free and what the future holds for you.
Try to distract yourself when you are planning on smoking a cigarette. Tell yourself you need to take a long walk before you could smoke, or try to drink a glass of water prior to smoking. This will help you to reduce your temptations and shift your focus elsewhere. Even if you eventually relent, this method can help you to cut back considerably.
One way to boost your success with quitting smoking, is building a list good and bad associations with quitting. Writing things down can change your whole mindset. Not only can you find motivation to continue your journey in this way, but your trek might become easier since you can concentrate more.
The delay tactic is a great tool to use when the craving for a cigarette seems overwhelming. Tell yourself that you will wait 10 minutes and then find a way to distract yourself for that time period. Usually, after the 10 minutes have passed, any craving will have gone away. If not, repeat this step as often as needed.
When quitting smoking, take each day as it comes. Instead of focusing on quitting forever, just focus on quitting for today. If you take things in a shorter time frame, it is often easier to cope with the stress. You can always increase your goals and time horizon when you are ready.
Many people turn to food when they quit smoking, so it is important that you stock up on healthy snacks. This can help balance out your system and avoid unnecessary weight gain. Understand that you’re going to have food cravings after you quit, and the best way to satiate those cravings is by creating a healthy frame of mind through healthy eating.
Plan on using exercise as you stop smoking, not just for the added health perks, but to distract yourself from the desire to smoke. Exercising is a great stress reliever as well. If you don’t exercise regularly, try to begin slow by taking walks once or twice daily. You should discuss your intentions with your doctor before pursuing any exercise routine.
Perhaps nicotine replacement therapy would be helpful. Nicotine withdrawal can make you feel depressed, restless, frustrated or irritable. Nicotine cravings may at time be overwhelming. You may find that nicotine replacement therapy will help reduce these feelings. Research proves that nicotine replacement products such as gum, patches or lozenges can double the success rate for quitting. You don’t, however, want to use those products if you are still smoking.
Stop Smoking
You should definitely tell your family and friends that you are going to quit smoking. They will keep you on track and encourage you when you are feeling weak. Building a support team is an optimal way to succeed at quitting. A solid support system greatly improves your chances of quitting permanently.
When a craving comes on to eat after you stop smoking, reach for vegetables and fruit. This will assist with keeping weight gain away. When you stop smoking, your body will crave foods. To stay healthy, eat healthy foods instead of junk.
If you have been smoking inside your house, give it a complete scrub-down, once you have quit. This includes carpets, curtains, walls and even furniture. This way, your fresh smelling house won’t remind you of smoking.
If you cannot quit cold turkey, replace your cigarettes with nicotine patches or gums. When you use these medications, you replace the nicotine from cigarettes with nicotine from the products. This helps you avoid nicotine withdrawal symptoms.
Think of strategies that provide frequent visual reminders to keep your mind motivated constantly. This could mean placing motivational messages on office walls, or even wearing bracelets that remind you of your intentions. Regardless of your method, a visual reminder is often a compelling motivator to keep going.
Do not try to quit all alone. Inform your family and friends that you are attempting to quit and ask them to inspire you to drop this habit. Joining a support group is another great idea. Sometimes by talking to others who are dealing with the same withdrawals and issues that you are will help you be able to lean on each other and finally stop the habit.
Seek support online. There are many websites that help people quit smoking. It could be helpful to compare your techniques for quitting with other people. Those who have already quit can best understand and support the journey you have undertaken.
Likely you already know that smoking is bad for you. Despite this, you may not have the will or the motivation to stop smoking. That is what these tips are for. Make use of the above advice when you feel unmotivated or when nothing seems to be able to get rid of your cravings. And soon you can enjoy the many advantages that come with being a non-smoker!
Plan out how you’re going to successfully deal with stress. When faced with stress, many smokers light up as if on autopilot. If you develop an alternate plan, however, you will be better able to avoid smoking. Having multiple ideas to fall back on in the event the first one does not help enough is an even better plan.