There are a lot of people that desire to stop their smoking habits. Smoking has many harmful effects, especially on your lungs. Read the following advice to find out what can be done to stop smoking forever.
Let loved ones and friends know, that you wish to quit smoking. When you tell these people you’ve quit, they will motivate you to stay committed. This could be the nudge in the right direction you need to quit smoking.
Quit smoking gradually. Quitting cold turkey may not be successful. This method of quitting has a 95 percent failure rate. Since nicotine is so addictive, it is best to wean yourself off. Any of these methods can make your experience with withdrawal easier, helping to ensure that you can quit for good.
Make sure that you get an ample amount of rest when you are working to quit smoking. For many individuals, staying up late at night leads to increased cigarette cravings. Later at night always seems to be the time nobody else is around, so sneaking in a cigarette is easier. When you get the rest you need, it is easier to focus on your commitment to stop and resist the temptation to give in to cravings.
If you feel that you need to smoke a cigarette, first try to delay that action. Take a long walk, do the dishes or put away the laundry before permitting yourself to smoke. Often, you will find that just giving your mind some time and something to occupy itself with you will be able to get past the craving without having to smoke. If you still decide to smoke that cigarette, the delay time might just mean that you smoke one less that day.
Your doctor may be able to help you quit smoking if you can’t do it by yourself. Some medications can make it easier to quit smoking. A doctor might also give you information about hotlines, support groups and other resources which can increase the likelihood of success with quitting.
Hypnosis has proven to be an effective stop smoking method for many people. Hypnosis has helped many people to successfully quit for good. After you are placed in a deep trance, the hypnotist will offer you positive affirmations that remain embedded in your memory. This helps to reduce the appeal of cigarettes.
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 extremely tough to resist. You can help alleviate these feelings by using nicotine-replacement therapy. There are many studies that show using gum, lozenges, or nicotine patches increases the chance of quitting. Just remember never to couple these products with smoking.
As with other addictions, approach each day without a cigarette as a small victory. Instead of focusing on quitting forever, just focus on quitting for today. Sometimes when you think that your goals aren’t that far away, you’ll be more mentally and physically prepared. After you have adjusted to the idea of not smoking and feel more confident, you can then look at a longer commitment.
As you work on quitting, steer clear of the things that you mentally link with smoking. For instance, change things like smoking when driving or reading so that you don’t automatically think about your smoking habit. Look for constructive activities and distractions, to occupy your mind during those periods.
To prevent yourself from gaining weight after quitting smoking, snack on fresh fruits and vegetables instead of sweets or carb-laden foods. This will boost your health by enjoying some healthy produce while stopping weight gain in it’s tracks. Your body will likely crave food as you stop smoking, so allow yourself to snack using healthy treats to keep your mind and body in top shape.
Never attempt to quit smoking by yourself. Ask your family for support while you quit and accept their assistance. It’s also a great idea to join a support group. Sometimes being able to talk to someone who is experiencing the same situations that you are will help keep you going.
Rally the support of everyone that you love. Also, make sure that they know not to be judgmental and are as optimistic as possible to improve your chance for success. Tell them that you’ll probably be irrational and in a depressed mood first. Quitting is hard, but if you have the support of your friends and family you’ll be able to make it through a little easier.
As you work on quitting smoking, remember to give yourself a reward every time you hit an important milestone. If you can go for a full week without smoking a single cigarette, reward yourself with a new shirt or a movie ticket. After a month, eat out at a nice restaurant that you don’t regularly dine at. You can build your rewards up, making each month and year without smoking an even sweeter success.
By now, you should have a better understanding of what you need to do to quit smoking. There are people in your life who love you and depend on you, and quitting smoking will mean that you have more time to spend with them. What you have just read will help you do so.
Reduce the amount of cigarettes you smoke. That way, you can get off to a good start in your efforts to quit smoking. You should at least wait an hour or two before you have a smoke after you wake up. One other strategy to reduce the amount you smoke is to smoke just half a cigarette each time you have one.