It is no secret that smoking is detrimental to your health, but plenty of people still habitually light up. It is easier to say you will quit than it is to actually do it. If you are ready to learn what you need to do to banish your smoking habit, read on.
Write down reasons why you should quit to increase the chances that you actually do quit. When something is put into writing, it may have an affect on how you think about things. By making this list, you can spark your interest and motivation in quitting, and help you focus on quitting so that you can more easily stop smoking.
Support groups can be a great resource once you have firmly decided that you are ready to quit. Talking to your peers will help you to find new techniques for fighting cravings, have emotional support and find new non-smoking friends. You will receive wonderful advice and support from these kinds of people as they have been in your shoes before. It is possible to find support groups at many places like churches, colleges, or rec centers.
Quit smoking as easily as possible. Avoid quitting cold turkey, which seldom works. If you try this out, you will undoubtedly fail! Because nicotine is so addicting, a patch, medication, or therapy may be helpful. This will ease you through the difficult early withdrawal stages and make quitting easier.
Replace sweets with fresh produce to prevent gaining weight as you quit smoking. This can help balance out your system and avoid unnecessary weight gain. Your body will likely crave food as you quit smoking, so allow yourself to snack using healthy treats to keep your mind and body in top shape.
Come up with your own personalized plan for quitting. Making a customized list of things to try, can help you succeed at quitting. Everyone has their own ways of getting things done. You must learn the best techniques for you. Make a list for yourself.
Loved Ones
Eliminate the triggers you associate with smoking cigarettes. A couple of examples are like if you smoke after you eat a meal or while you drive your car. You have to identify these triggers and change how you respond to them so you don’t automatically start smoking. Distract yourself with something else at those times.
If you want to kick your smoking habit, enlist the support of your friends and loved ones. Ask them to provide you with encouragement and not criticism. Let them know that you will probably be crabby at the beginning. Quitting smoking is not easy, so you should enlist the support of your loved ones to help you through the process.
As part of your attempt to stop smoking, you will want to discuss it with your physician. Your doctor may be able to refer you to a support group or have knowledge of specialists in your area. Additionally, your doctor might feel that you would benefit from using a prescription drug therapy method to help you quit.
If quitting smoking cold turkey is not an option, supplement your attempts with nicotine replacement products such as nicotine gum or 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.
To maintain your willpower, despite intense cravings and withdrawal symptoms, look for healthy outlets for your stress. You may find it helpful to work out during the most difficult part of the day, learn a new skill or hobby, or book massages on a regular schedule. When you have downtime, surround yourself with pleasant distractions, such as good books, scheduled chats with friends or new games.
Avoid triggers you associate with smoking when you are trying to quit. If you like to have a cigarette with coffee you can switch to tea, for example. Try to use other things to distract your thoughts, if you are thinking about smoking.
One of the ways that can help you quit smoking is to change to a different brand of cigarettes. Go with a cigarette that does not taste very good. Don’t smoke more of them or inhale them differently. This will help you get started on the path to becoming a nonsmoker.
To quit smoking for good, quit as many times as it takes. Most former smokers will tell you that it was necessary to kick the habit more than once. Instead of expecting perfection from yourself, just quit for as long as possible. Once you light up again, choose another quit date. Try quitting and remember to try longer each time, as you learn along the way. You will find that you will become better at quitting, and eventually you will quit altogether.
If you want to give up smoking for good, you may need to practice quitting. You must stay motivated, as it is possible to fail at first. Stop smoking, and plan on avoiding cigarettes for as long as possible before lighting back up. As soon as you do light up again, set another quit date. Each time, make sure to extend the period between cigarettes an additional week. One time it will stick, so just be patient.
Great advice when quitting is to stop smoking altogether. By stopping, you are taking the most important step you can take. Just do it, give up smoking cold turkey and never start up again. Quitting outright might seem difficult at first. In the long-term, the method is the successful one.
Ideally, you should remove yourself from any situation that would otherwise incite you to start smoking. If you are used to smoking while you drink coffee in the morning or during your office happy hour, think about altering your routine. For example, drink your coffee on your way to work and staying away from bars will reduce your cravings.
If you smoke at home, do a thorough cleaning of your living space, once you decide to quit. Clean your carpets, your curtains, your clothes and your furniture. You should even wash the walls. Get the smell of smoke out of everything in your home. Your home will smell fresh and clean, and you will not be reminded of smoking every time you walk in the door.
If you’re going to quit smoking, keep in mind that week one will inevitably be the toughest. During the first 48 hours, your body will be eliminating its buildup of nicotine. The cravings you experience after that will be predominantly psychological. That’s still hard to deal with, but it gradually becomes easier.
You need to find ways to have your motivation in sight at all times. Put motivational post-it notes in obvious places, and consider wearing something that reminds you of your desire to quit. These visual aids will keep your motivation level high when cravings get bad.
Talk to your doctor about medications that can be used to help you quit. There are many products on the market now available to help you quit for good. There are many options available to help you stop smoking, and these range from certain medications that help with withdrawal to nicotine replacement therapies. Discuss all of your options with your physician to find the strategy that will help you kick the habit once and for all.
Plan out your stress coping mechanisms as soon as you quit smoking. Avoid the temptation to light up when you’re stressed; this is a common response of those who smoke regularly. Having a plan in place will ensure you don’t fall prey to your cravings. Come up with several alternatives for stress relief so that you can try different things if the first thing on your list doesn’t eliminate the desire to smoke.
When you decide to quit smoking, enlist the help of friends and family. Let everybody know that you’re attempting to quit smoking. Their added support could be the key to your success. Also, consider attending a support group or getting some behavioral therapy to assist you in quitting.
Think about the places where you used to regularly have a cigarette, and then avoid them. If you are used to smoking while you drink coffee in the morning or during your office happy hour, think about altering your routine. Having your coffee at work, or avoiding places where smokers congregate, will help you avoid activities that used to be associated with smoking.
Use sense when eating. If you are trying to quit smoking, it’s not the best time to go on a diet. Rather, try to follow a balanced diet. Studies have shown that fruits, veggies and low-fat dairy products will leave a bad taste in your mouth if you smoke. Make healthy eating choices to help your body rebuild after the damage you’ve done to it through smoking.
Don’t let yourself indulge even a little bit. You may be thinking that you can handle having just one cigarette, but in reality, that one cigarette will probably undo all of your quitting efforts. Keep in mind what a single puff can do.
Many who stop smoking without the use of cessation methods do it by having a different outlook. To do this, you must understand that, to quit smoking, you must focus on getting through just one more day. In addition, you can use cognitive behavioral therapy to change what you do everyday in order to sever the mental attachment that is tying you with tobacco.
Stop Smoking
Artsy folk have found that writing down one’s thoughts in a stop-smoking diary can improve the odds of success. Many smokers smoke as a way to relax. Writing is a healthier alternative to picking up a cigarette. And if you need another incentive, it doesn’t cost you anything!
If you’re going to stop smoking, keep in mind that week one will inevitably be the toughest. During the first two days after you stop smoking, your body will be shedding all the nicotine you have consumed. After you eliminate the nicotine from your body, you just have to deal with psychological reasons for wanting to smoke. Understanding this can make resisting the cravings less traumatic.
If you have quit smoking recently, keep a big bag of lollipops close by. A lollipop is a great replacement for a cigarette when you face temptation. The sucker’s stick will keep the hand busy that is normally holding a cigarette. The candy will help to keep your mouth busy. Using your hands to hold something else and putting a different object in your mouth makes it easier to overcome cigarette cravings.
Don’t decide to quit “someday.” Do it today. Decide to quit today instead of setting your quit date in the future. If you commit to kicking your habit, as soon as possible, you can potentially extend your life by many years. Your family is also affected by your smoking, as secondhand smoke has shown to be deadly.
Find out more about the side effects of smoking to become more determined to quit. Get some pictures of what lung, gum or mouth cancer does to your body. You can also find plenty of memorials online to people who died of diseases caused by smoking.
As you’ve learned from this article, if you apply yourself, you may stop smoking. The main thing you have to do is stay strong, determined and ready to stay with your goal plan. Using the solid information in this article will have you on your way to being smoke free.
When you begin quitting, try going to places where non-smokers are. Grab a non-smoking friend and visit a museum for the afternoon, or go see some cheap matinee movies. Take your coffee inside the coffee shop as opposed to sitting in the outdoor area, where smoking is acceptable. Making sure you remove yourself from smoking opportunities, is a good way to conquer cravings.