Many people really struggle to stop smoking. There is no single cure which produces good results for everyone. You may have to do your homework, and find methods that suit your needs. Begin with the following advice, and that should provide you with useful ways to make quitting easier for you.
Once you’ve decided to quit smoking, find a support group. It is beneficial to have a network of others who are where you are and can understand what you’re going through. This support group can give you the benefit of their experience, what works well to make quitting easier. To locate a support group near you, check with churches, recreational centers, or community colleges in your area.
One aid to help you in quitting is to make a list of reasons why you should stop smoking, and also the reasons why you resist quitting. When you go through the tactile experience and physical actions of writing, your psychological perspective is often shifted in the process. You may become more motivated to remain on the path, and therefore, you may even find quitting to be less of a challenge.
If smoking a cigarette is something you cannot avoid, at least try and stall for time before lighting up. Take a long walk or watch a television program to get your mind off smoking. Sometimes, delaying smoking can help you resist smoking. If you desire to smoke a cigarette, the delay could cause you to smoke one less cigarette that day.
If you are ready to quit smoking, try hypnosis. Acquiring the services of a licensed hypnotist has been proven to be effective for many others. The hypnotist will induce a deep trance, and then repeat positive affirmations that will lodge themselves in your mind. When you are awakened from this trance, you might not be as interested in cigarettes as you were before, making your goal more attainable.
If you are ready to quit smoking, try hypnosis. If you decide to try hypnosis, make an appointment with a licensed hypnotist. One the therapist places you in a hypnotic trance, and they speak to you in positive affirmations that embed themselves in your subconscious mind. When you finally wake up, cigarettes may not have the same allure that they do now, which will allow you a greater chance of succeeding.
No matter what, you need to look at your quitting one day at a time. Remember that quitting will always be a process, and it doesn’t usually happen over night. Do not think too far ahead in time. Make efforts on a daily basis and focus on getting through each day without smoking so that this new habits becomes part of your lifestyle.
Make a list of methods you can use to help you quit smoking. Taking time to think and customize your list based on your personality is a good method of quitting. Everyone does things their own way. You have to figure out what works best for yourself and your lifestyle. Creating this personalized list does just that.
When you decide to quit smoking, tell your family and friends. When you share this information with those closest to you, they can help you remain focused on quitting. This could potentially be the push you need to remain motivated and actually quit.
Make a gym membership part of your quitting plan. Your health will improve and, more importantly, you will give yourself something instead of smoking to occupy your time. Movement of any kind is also an effective tool for stress relief. If you are out of shape, and have not exercised in a while, you can start slowly by simply going for a walk every morning, or every other day. Speak to a doctor before starting an exercise routine.
If you’re trying to quit smoking, take things one day at a time. Don’t think about quitting forever; instead focus on today. Having a shorter time horizon makes it easier physically and mentally. As each day passes, extend your timeline a little more into the future.
Get lots of rest when you are trying to stop smoking. Not getting adequate sleep can sometimes lead to cravings. Many times, there is nobody around during late night hours, which makes it easier to sneak in a couple puffs. If you get a full nights sleep, it helps to stay focused and avoid cravings.
Nicotine Replacement
Nicotine replacement therapy is a great option. As you are going through nicotine withdrawal, you might feel irritable, restless, frustrated or depressed. Cravings can be very hard to deal with. Nicotine replacement therapies may help you overcome these cravings while reducing the amount of nicotine in your body. The chances of someone quitting smoking is doubled if they utilize nicotine patches or gum. However, never use these types of products if you still smoke.
Use one of the many nicotine replacement solutions on the market today. The effects of nicotine withdrawal may make you feel irritable, depressed or restless. Cravings can be extremely tough to resist. Therapies like nicotine replacement therapy can be helpful. You will have twice the chance of giving up smoking if you use reliable nicotine patches, lozenges or gum. Just remember never to couple these products with smoking.
Ask your doctor for help to quit smoking. A physician may know about methods for quitting that you are not aware of. Your doctor will also be able to write you a prescription for medication to help you quit smoking, if he or she feels that it is necessary.
To avoid cracking under the pressure of cravings and nicotine withdrawal, find healthy ways to deal with the resulting stress. You might consider paying the gym a visit, or enrolling in a class that teaches you a new hobby. Even a massage or bubble bath can provide relief during times when stress is high. When you have downtime, surround yourself with pleasant distractions, such as good books, scheduled chats with friends or new games.
Reward each of your milestones when you are trying to quit smoking. You can take yourself out to a new movie release after the first week. Once a month has passed, go out to dinner at a new restaurant. Continue working towards these smaller goals until you find you can go without smoking indefinitely.
Secondhand Smoke
The best thing you can do to start your cigarette free lifestyle is to just quit smoking. You will begin your journey the day you say no to a cigarette. Just quit — and don’t begin again. The cold turkey method will seem very difficult. It is really the best way, over the long term.
The health of your loved ones depends on you to quit smoking. Secondhand smoke can cause various dangerous health conditions, and diseases like cancer. By reducing the smoke that you generate with your cigarettes, you are reducing the amount of secondhand smoke that you have exposed your loved ones to. Quitting smoking now will make you and everyone around you healthier.
You can find support in the form of online forums. A quick search will turn up an overwhelming number of websites for people who want to quit smoking. It may be helpful to talk with other smokers about the different quitting techniques they have tried. You will find comfort in talking to people who are going through the same kind of struggles.
Stay as optimistic as possible when developing a regimen to stop smoking. Make the effort to imagine all the ways that your life can be better after you’ve quit smoking. Think of everything that will improve, from your skin, to your hair, to your breath, to the smell of your car. Thinking about all the good that can happen as a result of quitting can be just as motivational as thinking about the bad.
If you do not succeed at quitting initially, don’t beat up on yourself or get discouraged. Even the hardest working quitters can fail. You can learn from your mistakes and turn them into strengths. You may experience a bigger triumph down the road.
The best place to start when quitting smoking, is to just stop. The most effective way to begin a smoke-free life is to just stop the habit. By doing this, you are making a pact never to start smoking again. This strategy might seem tough. It has been shown that this method can be quite effective.
Counseling can help you in your mission to quit smoking. There are sometimes emotional factors influencing people to smoke. And, when these reasons are addressed, your urge to smoke could leave, too. Talk to your doctor about counseling, and he or she should be able to send you to a good therapist.
When you quit smoking, clean your home thoroughly, if you smoked indoors. Shampoo your upholstery and carpets, launder your curtains and drapes and wash your walls. This will make your home smell great and make it so that entering your home doesn’t trigger the need to smoke.
If you know that you have an oral fixation as part of your addiction, find other things so your mouth stays active. Many people find hard candy or gum to be useful when they quit smoking, and carry it with them all the time. Electronic cigarettes are also a great replacement for the real deal.
Think about some important sub-goals, such as staying off cigarettes for a week, and decide on rewards for reaching those goals before you reach them. Jot down rewards you’ll give yourself after you’ve been smoke-free for a single day, week and month. Put this list on the refrigerator and look at it every morning before work or school. Seeing your future rewards may give you that extra bit of motivation you need when you are feeling weak.
Consider keeping a journal of the smoking habits you have developed. Determine the time you are more prone to smoke, so you develop an appropriate program to help you quit. If you are ready for the tobacco cravings, then you can deal with them, which will make you better able to avoid the temptations.
Have a conversation with your doctor that includes a discussion of medications that can assist in quitting. There are many products on the market now available to help you quit for good. There are many options in this area, including nicotine substitutes and anti-withdrawal medications. Talk to your doctor and find out what they recommend for your situation.
If you become too irritable whenever you try to stop smoking, nicotine replacement therapy may be your best bet. Nicotine gum and patches can lessen the intensity of cravings and withdrawal, helping you to stick to your guns when it comes to quitting. Once you have given up the cigarettes for good, you can start weaning yourself from nicotine altogether.
Establish an extensive list of the reasons behind your decision to quit. If you are tempted to start again, get the list out and read it to motivate yourself to stay strong.
Take some time to honestly consider the top reasons why you would want to stop smoking. You should write your top reasons for quitting smoking on a small slip of paper, and place it in your wallet. When you feel the need to smoke, bring them out and read them over ten times. By the time you’re done, you’ll feel better.
Deep Breathing
Invest in some hard candies or suckers when you first quit smoking. A lollipop is a great replacement for a cigarette when you face temptation. You will feel like you are using the hand you usually smoke with. The candy part can also keep your mouth occupied. By keeping your hands and mouth busy, you will be able to help your craving for cigarettes.
Deep breathing is one effective way to cope with cravings. This enables you to focus so you remember the reasons you quit to begin with. The increased oxygenation can also leave you feeling rejuvenated. You can use simple deep breathing exercises whenever you need to, no matter where you are.
Don’t be surprised if you get craving along the way, even if you haven’t smoked for years. It’s important that you do not give in or take a single puff, though. Reaffirm the effort you went through to reach the point you are at now. Is it worth the risk and trouble again?
Quitting smoking isn’t always the easiest thing to do, and there isn’t one method that works for everyone. Quitting is NOT impossible, though! Between motivation and the tips you have been provided, you will be successful. With persistence and will power, you will hopefully be able to finally quit!
During the first few days of your quitting attempt, fill your time with visits to places that people cannot smoke. Try going to a marathon of movies at a cheap theater, or go to an art museum with a couple of friends. Whenever you go out and get coffee, sit inside with the other non-smokers, rather than out on the smoking deck. If you will stay away from places that allow you to smoke, it can help you stave off cravings.