So many people know that they shouldn’t smoke, but continue to do it despite this knowledge. Quitting is possible, but it is challenging. Oftentimes, people return to smoking instead of putting in the work to overcome their addiction. If you are ready to learn what you need to do to banish your smoking habit, read on.
If you want to give in to a craving, put it off as long as possible. Set tasks that you commit to performing prior to that cigarette, including small things such as going on a walk or making a fruit juice smoothie. Sometimes, delaying smoking actually is enough to prevent you from taking that puff. If you do end up smoking a cigarette, at least you will have smoked one less cigarette that day.
Cold Turkey
If you just cannot give up cigarettes without the cravings overwhelming you, try some of the nicotine replacement products like gums 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.
Be easy when you quit smoking. Cold turkey may not be the most effective approach for you. A massive majority of smokers that try to quit cold turkey fail. If you do fail, talk to your doctor about using a nicotine patch or prescription withdrawal treatment. These things will help you with any withdrawal symptoms you may experience, and make quitting successfully much more likely.
Make sure that you are fully committed before you even start to quit smoking. Too many people try to quit on a whim and then fail when they are faced with serious obstacles. Always remember why you wish to quit to keep yourself motivated.
Hypnosis can help stop smoking. Many people have found success with professional hypnotists. A hypnotist can help you stop smoking by putting you into a trance and building statements in your mind that will keep your brain from wanting to smoke. It can make cigarettes seem less appetizing, leading you to never want to smoke again.
If you want to stop smoking, visit your doctor. A physician may know about methods for quitting that you are not aware of. Your doctor is also the only one that can write you a prescription for a nicotine replacement medication.
One small step toward quitting could be to switch cigarette brands. Give up your preferred brand to one that you find absolutely horrible. Avoid smoking more of them than you normally would or inhaling them in different ways. You will be off to a great start in kicking your habit.
If you really want to quit smoking, get good at quitting. Many former smokers were unsuccessful on their first attempt to quit. You have to take quitting day-by-day, living in the moment. If you do fail and have a cigarette, quickly set a new quit date. Quit for longer and longer periods of time each time. Eventually, one of your efforts will become permanent.
Make your family and friends aware of your intention to give up smoking. They have your back and will help you keep your goal in sight. A support system can be tremendously valuable. The chance of being successful in your quest to give up smoking will be increased significantly.
Plan ahead, so that you are prepared to deal with stress without resorting to smoking. For smokers, the way to deal with a stressful situation is to light a cigarette. If you make a plan in place to keep you from giving in to these temptations, you will be more likely to not grab a quick smoke. Have a backup plan in case the first plan doesn’t work.
Some smokers find cutting back on smoking is a good start. This is a good way to ease into the idea of quitting altogether. Avoid smoking when you first wake up. In addition, you can smoke less by only smoking a half cigarette each time you smoke.
Think about the likely consequences of a major decline in your health caused by smoking. How would your loved ones and friends be impacted? Data suggests that about twenty percent of deaths in the United States have something to do with smoking. Do not become a statistic.
Look at stopping as a finite choice. By stopping, you are taking the most important step you can take. You can put down the pack, the trick is never looking back. This method of quitting cigarettes is not the easiest one. However, this method has been shown to actually be more effective, as time goes by.
When quitting smoking, keep in mind that the process will be most difficult during the first week. In fact, the first two days–approximately 48 hours–are the worst part of quitting, because you’re detoxifying from nicotine. 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.
Give your home a fresh start, too, by cleaning away the smoky smell. Wash your walls, drapes and curtains and shampoo the carpet and upholstery. Doing so helps your home to stop smelling like cigarettes and stop it from being a constant reminder of the cigarettes you enjoyed.
Start exercising regularly. Once you quit smoking, it becomes easier to exercise, due to improved lung capacity. This can also help you to reduce potential weight gain. Furthermore, exercise produces endorphins that help ameliorate some of the discomfort produced by withdrawal.
Reward yourself for accomplishing a milestone and plan each reward in advance. These rewards can be tied to a given amount of time spent without smoking, whether a day or a month. Post this rewards list where it will catch your eye often. This will allow you to combat any urges or temptations that you have during the day.
Taking away the reminders and triggers that make you want to smoke can also help you to stop smoking. Get rid of lighters, ashtrays and matches. You should take time to wash all of your clothing and linens to remove the smell of smoke. You may also need to thoroughly clean your house from top to bottom. Doing this will prevent items that remind you of smoking from triggering your craving for a cigarette.
Many people enjoy the support of online communities and discussion boards. There are numerous sites that are devoted to help people stop smoking. You can find it useful to compare some techniques with others. People who are trying to quit at the same time understand the unique struggles involved in the process.
When you are trying to stop smoking, concentrate on eating fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts. Healthy, natural, low calorie foods are helpful in quitting. For instance, having your mouth and hands constantly doing something could replace the behavioral motions of smoking. Regularly consuming these healthy foods can also help prevent weight gain. The vitamins and nutrients in these foods will lessen the discomforts of withdrawal.
Come up with new plans for dealing with stress. A lot of people that smoke are used to smoking a cigarette when they get stressed. If you make a plan and have strategies in place, you can better avoid smoking. By having a plan in place, you will be able avoid the urge to smoke.
If you are thinking about kicking your cigarette habit, create a detailed list of things that will motivate you to stick with it. When you find that you are struggling to find a good reason to continue with the quitting, pull out the list and use it for motivation to keep you going.
If you need some extra motivation to quit smoking, keep your family and anyone else that would be affected if you were to get sick because this habit in your mind. One out of every five American deaths is related to smoking in some way, according to many statistics. I don’t think you want to be on the losing end of those statistics.
It can be easier to quit smoking when you are aware of when and where you tend to smoke. Try to find out when you’re most vulnerable to smoke in order to create a plan on how to quit. If you know when you are most vulnerable to those cravings, it will be easier to prepare yourself to avoid them.
For anyone that tries to stop smoking, the first week is always the most difficult. For the first two days after quitting, your body rids itself of the highly addictive nicotine, leading to physical withdrawal. After you get through the first week, however, the bulk of the cravings will be primarily psychological. It is still difficult, but they will be much less menacing.
Be sure to eat healthy. Quitting cigarettes and junk food in conjunction is a recipe for failure. Follow a healthy, balanced diet. If you smoke, veggies and fruit can give a bad mouth taste if you smoke. If you eat these items when you do not smoke, you will be doing a huge favor to your health, and it will help you stay away from those harmful cigarettes.
Try to put quitting in a positive light, as it can serve to be very advantageous to your life. When you look at any task positively, including quitting smoking, it is easier to stay focused and motivated. Think about the pros rather than the cons. Do not dwell on the deprivations, think about the positive aspects of a nicotine free life. You will find your motivations and have every reason to quit immediately.
If you are trying to quit smoking, it is important to think about the challenges that you might face right after you stop. Many people relapse just a few weeks or months after quitting. It might be tempting to smoke when you’re stressed or tired. Knowing your triggers can help you to avoid or resist them.
If you feel like a cigarette, exercise instead. After working out, the body releases endorphins. These make you feel better and are a great distraction from cigarettes. Exercise is beneficial in another way as well; it can minimize the effects of metabolism changes that happen when you stop smoking, which can help keep the extra weight gain at bay that people who quit sometimes experience.
To keep irritation and agitation to a minimum while you quit, use nicotine replacement products. Nicotine gum and patches can hold withdrawal symptoms at bay while you break your smoking habits. You’ll be able to kick the nicotine habit as soon as you’ve kicked the smoking habit.
Have a conversation with your doctor that includes a discussion of medications that can assist in quitting. Many advances have been made with medications for smoking cessation. From oral medications to nicotine patches, there are a number of treatment options to help you deal with nicotine withdrawal. Consult with your doctor to determine the best course of action regarding treatments.
Let your co-workers, friends and family know that you are trying to quit smoking. The more people that know you are quitting smoking, the more people there are that can hold you accountable. Of course, you will not want to disappoint them or have to eventually confess to the fact that you did not actually quit. Your social network can serve as excellent motivation when temptations become especially strong.
Now you know that you can stop smoking if you really try. It is important to maintain your determination and follow your plans to the letter. If you do this and use all the advice you learned from this article, you should kick the habit of smoking for good before you know it.
Schedule visits to non-smoking locations when you start quitting. Go check out a bunch of movies at the local theater, or perhaps go with a group of friends to a museum. When you go out for a meal or coffee, sit in a non-smoking area. Simply being in an area where smoking is allowed, or where others are smoking, can make your cravings even worse.