Your loved ones desperately want you to stop smoking. You physician echoes the sentiment. Even your insurance company is willing to give you a discount if you quit. So, why have you not quit smoking yet? Time to stop and use these tips to quit the habit without another thought.
To raise the probability that you will succeed in your wish to quit smoking, try compiling a list on paper of the positive and negative consequences of quitting. Writing it down can affect your mental outlook. It can also motivate to forge ahead, and may make quitting less difficult by allowing you to keep your eyes on the prize.
When you are trying to quit smoking, you have to stay away from the things that trigger you and make you smoke. For instance, if your triggers include smoking while driving, the end of a meal or driving, try to find alternatives to the cigarette to replace them. Choose another activity instead of smoking while engaging in these activities. This will distract you from cigarette cravings.
Find the method of quitting that will be easiest for you. Avoid going cold turkey. Statistically, people who try cold turkey fail 95% of the time. Nicotine is very, very addictive, try using some medication, therapy, or the nicotine patch. This will ease you through the difficult early withdrawal stages and make quitting easier.
Secondhand Smoke
You may wish to join a support group when you decide to stop smoking. It can be very beneficial to network with people who have been where you are, and understand the emotional and physical challenges that you’re going through. You can receive support and guidance from former smokers who’ve successfully quit, as well as good tips for dealing with the process. Inquire at your local churches, colleges and universities, and YMCA to find out if they run support groups.
Stop smoking now, not only for yourself, but for any loved ones that you have. Secondhand smoke can cause cancer and other major health complications. Quitting reduces your family’s exposure to secondhand smoke, so they will be less likely to get seriously ill if you quit. This means that not only will quitting make you healthier, it will make your loved ones healthier too.
Get into a fitness routine by joining a gym and occupy your smoking time with beneficial exercise. Exercise is a great way to relieve stress and to gain a healthier attitude. 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.
Stay positive and motivated in order to stop smoking. Make the effort to imagine all the ways that your life can be better after you’ve stop 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. Thinking about all the good that can happen as a result of quitting can be just as motivational as thinking about the bad.
Ask your family members to get on board with your decision to stop smoking. It’s key that you leverage their support, but tell them not to judge you. Let them know that you’ll be moody at the beginning, since your thinking won’t be as clear. Quitting smoking isn’t easy, and the support of the people you love is essential during the process of quitting.
If you want to stop smoking, you need to be okay with quitting more than once. Most former smokers will tell you that it was necessary to kick the habit more than once. Just stop immediately, and be a nonsmoker 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. One time it will stick, so just be patient.
Reward yourself for passing milestones on your journey. For instance, you might decide to see a movie as a treat to mark one week without a cigarette. After you make it a month, give yourself a nice dinner at a restaurant you don’t usually go to. Continue creating rewards to work towards until you forget about smoking and are ready to move past it completely.
Give your home a fresh start, too, by cleaning away the smoky smell. Clean your carpets and furnishings, launder all your curtains or drapes, and wash down all the walls in your home. 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.
Fortify your resolve to not give in, by creating a solid backup plan for when the cravings kick in, or the pressure adds up. Get some exercise when cravings hit, engage in a hobby or teach your partner to give a great massage. When you have some free time, have pleasant distractions around you, such as reading an excellent book, talking with your friends, or playing new games.
Remind yourself of the bleak consequences smoking has on your health. According to U.S. statistics, twenty percent of all deaths are directly related to smoking. Don’t let yourself be one of the ones who dies from smoking. Quit today for better health.
Protect your family’s health by quitting smoking. Secondhand smoke can cause various dangerous health conditions, and diseases like cancer. When you’re stopping smoking you will also be stopping how much you expose your loved ones to the dangerous chemicals in secondhand smoke. By stopping smoking, you will not only protect yourself, but you will also protect your loved ones.
You now have the information to stop smoking for good. Quitting will improve your health and appearance, and can add several years to your lifespan. You’ll also wind up saving a lot of money that you would otherwise spend on tobacco. Consider using some of that saved money to thank your loved ones for seeing you through the process.
Create a plan to reward yourself each time you reach a milestone in your quitting efforts. Make a list of the rewards you will offer yourself once you’ve stopped smoking for one day, a week, a month and so on. Keep this list somewhere where you’ll notice it each day. This could provide you assistance in staying motivated whenever you feel weak.