Many think quitting is easily accomplished by tossing the cigarettes away and willing yourself to stop. There’s nothing wrong with using willpower to help you stop smoking. However, quitting doesn’t require superhuman strength–you can have an easier time quitting than you may think. There are a number of methods you can put to use that will assist you in quitting your smoking habit.
When you have made the decision to stop smoking, try seeking out help from a support group. By getting together with people who are in your shoes, you can share the difficulties you are facing. You can receive support and guidance from former smokers who’ve successfully quit, as well as good tips for dealing with the process. You can find groups for support at local churches, recreational centers or community colleges.
If decide to give up smoking, try hypnosis. Many people have found success with professional hypnotists. One the therapist places you in a hypnotic trance, and they speak to you in positive affirmations that embed themselves in your subconscious mind. Cigarettes are less appealing to you when you wake, making you that much closer to quitting.
If you need to smoke, try delaying it. Whatever you can do to delay smoking will help, so take a walk, drink some water or lie down. Sometimes, giving your mind just a little more time is enough to keep you from taking a puff. If you still decide to smoke that cigarette, the delay time might just mean that you smoke one less that day.
Make sure you remember to take quitting one step at a time. Kicking your habit for good is not an overnight thing; it is a long-term process. Think about the present without concerning yourself with the future. Approach your plan to stop smoking one day at a time, and as you are successful short term, you can think in terms of the future.
If you want to stop smoking, make a list of methods that will work for you. Taking time to customize your personal list, is an excellent help in accomplishing your goal. What works for someone else may not work for you. It is important that you find a formula that is manageable and comfortable. Making a list helps with that process.
Erm Goals
Don’t rush into quitting. Take it day-by-day. Make your goals very short and attainable – one day at a time. Having a shorter time horizon makes it easier physically and mentally. After you have adjusted to the idea of not smoking and feel more confident, you can then look at a longer commitment.
Don’t rush into quitting. Take it day-by-day. Instead of thinking about stopping forever, think about taking it one day at a time. A short timeline can help you stay on track instead of worrying about what is coming next. Once you are doing well with short-term goals, you can move on to long-term goals. This will happen easily as your commitment becomes stronger.
Make an appointment with your doctor if you are experiencing trouble with giving up smoking. A doctor may prescribe medication to ease your efforts. Aside from informing you of various smoking cessation medications, he or she can also let you know about support groups and other resources in the community that may be useful.
Start exercising. Not only will it help you get into shape, it can help you stay busy and avoid cigarettes. Exercise will also help you relieve stress. If you haven’t been exercising regularly, then start slow by taking a walk outside once every day or two. Before you begin any type of exercise routine, talk with your doctor.
Reach out to your friends and family to get support, when you decide to quit smoking. Also, make sure that they know not to be judgmental and are as optimistic as possible to improve your chance for success. Initially, you may suffer from mood swings and cloudy judgement and the people around you should be aware of it. Try to maximize your level of support throughout the process of quitting smoking.
Don’t try to do it on your own. Seek encouragement from family and friends and make them aware that you’re trying to stop smoking and ask them to help you out. You can also gain quite a bit from joining a support group. Discussing how you feel with others who are experiencing the same difficulties can help you power through and beat smoking for good.
If you simply cannot quit smoking straight out, make use of nicotine gums or skin patches. These medications, many of which are available over the counter, keep the level of nicotine in your system steady as you work on not smoking. They can prevent some of the uncomfortable physical symptoms associated with smoking cessation.
Cravings seem to come most often when an individual is feeling stressed. To keep yourself from falling victim to this, find a healthy alternative for stress relief. This can mean going to the gym at moments when you tend to experience cravings, or starting a hobby or even having a regular massage schedule. When you’ve got downtime, distract yourself with friends, books and games, so you don’t think of smoking.
Protect your family’s health by quitting smoking. Consider the dangers of secondhand smoke and realize that you are putting your family at risk of falling victim to these dangers every day. This should certainly motivate you to stop. Your family members will spend less time exposed to the dangers of secondhand smoke when you stop smoking. The benefits of stopping smoking will also be shared by the people with whom you live.
Make sure you tell your friends and family that you are quitting smoking. They have your back and will help you keep your goal in sight. Having a support system is the best way to quit. You will find that your confidence in succeeding is increased, and your goals are attainable.
When you stop smoking, start by changing brands. Choosing a brand you hate the taste or smell of is a great way to make you hate smoking even more. Make sure you don’t find yourself smoking a larger number or inhaling differently to compensate. This will get you started on your way to stop smoking.
Stop Smoking
The only way to quit smoking is to stop. You will begin your journey the day you say no to a cigarette. Just try to stop completely and never pick up another cigarette. This method can appear to be extremely difficult. However, people who use this method are less likely to return to smoking, over time, than people who use other methods.
Motivation and positive thinking can be very helpful in helping you stop smoking. Remain focused on the positive ways your life will change once you rid yourself of cigarettes. Imagine having breath that does not smell, or how sparkly your teeth can be, and how fresh and clean your surroundings will be. There are plenty of reasons to stop smoking – what are yours?
If you smoke at home, clean your place thoroughly, so it doesn’t smell of smoke. Shampoo your carpets and upholstery, wash your walls and launder your drapes or curtains. Instead of smelling smoke when you come home, you’ll smell clean, fresh fragrances. This will reduce the temptation to smoke.
Remember the initial week will surely be the hardest when you stop smoking. In fact, the first two days–approximately 48 hours–are the worst part of quitting, because you’re detoxifying from nicotine. From that point on, you will mostly suffer from psychological cravings. 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.
Your success is contingent on maintaining your motivation. This could mean placing motivational messages on office walls, or even wearing bracelets that remind you of your intentions. These visual aids will keep your motivation level high when cravings get bad.
It is possible to stop smoking. It isn’t easy, but there are many ways to curb the cravings. You’ll face temptation and cravings down the road, but the knowledge you now have will enable you to just say no!
Find support groups, either locally or in the online community. There are a lot of different websites that are meant to assist people in smoking cessation. It may be helpful or even cathartic to share quitting frustrations and successes with others who understand your struggle. If you have a support system made up of others that are quitting, this will help you deal with any trouble you may have.