For most smokers, quitting is the hardest thing they will ever do in their lives. There is no sure way that works for a single person. You might have to research, and look for methods that will suit your needs. The below tips will help you quit successfully.
Stay in the present moment, and take quitting one day at a time. Quitting can be a long process. Try not to think about next year, or even next month. Just go through it one day at a time, just getting rid of the smoking habit in the short term.
Make your quitting attempt as easy on yourself as you can. Avoid quitting cold turkey, which seldom works. Quitting cold turkey is only effective about 5% of the time. Since nicotine is so addictive, it’s important to use a method that includes a prescription or nicotine patches or gum. This will ease you through the early withdrawal stages and make quitting less difficult.
If you want to stop smoking, make a list of methods that will work for you. Customizing and personalizing the list will make it more effective. Everyone has their own ways of getting things done. It is important that you find a formula that is manageable and comfortable. That’s the purpose of making a personalized list.
Treat smoking cessation like kicking any other addiction: as a series of days of sobriety. To stop smoking is a process. Take things step by step to maximize your chance for success. Approach quitting on a day-by-day basis. Give yourself credit for every day you succeed, and you might be surprised by how quickly those days turn into weeks.
Use a good delay tactic when you are feeling an overwhelming desire to smoke a cigarette. By reminding yourself that you will revisit your feelings in ten minutes, and keeping yourself occupied while those minutes pass, you may find that your craving has vanished within that period of time. If it doesn’t work the first time, repeat this step until it does.
Start up some type of exercise, in order to keep your mind busy, and stay away from cigarettes. A good workout also eases a lot of the stress out of your day. If you have been leading a sedentary lifestyle, start slow, such as taking leisurely walks every couple of days and building up from there. Always go to your physician before you start exercising.
Have people that you know you can trust to help you quit smoking. It is vital you tell them you need and value their support, and you can do without them being judgmental. So, let people around you know that you’re going to quit smoking and that your mood is going to change because of this. Quitting smoking is a real challenge, and you’re going to need support to succeed.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
If you just cannot give up cigarettes without the cravings overwhelming you, try some of the nicotine replacement products like gums or patches. These products will ease some of the withdrawal symptoms you might go through. Nicotine is a highly addictive drug and the physical cravings can be very difficult to overcome.
Learn how nicotine replacement therapy can help. Withdrawal from cigarettes can leave you irritated, depressed, or frustrated. The constant cravings can overwhelm you. You may find that nicotine replacement therapy will help reduce these feelings. Research has shown that people who make use of nicotine gum, lozenges, or patches can have twice the chances of quitting smoking successfully. Don’t use these products if you’re currently smoking.
Nicotine replacement therapy can be an effective weapon in breaking the smoking habit. Nicotine withdrawal is very trying and can exacerbate feelings of stress, depression and anxiety. Additionally, the cravings can cause extreme discomfort during the day. You can help with the cravings by using nicotine replacement therapy. Studies show that individuals who use nicotine gums, patches or lozenges double their chances of quitting successfully. Make sure not to incorporate these products simultaneously while smoking, as there can be devastating effects.
Fortify your resolve to not give in, by creating a solid backup plan for when the cravings kick in, or the pressure adds up. You could exercise once a day, find new hobbies or perhaps get massages. Give yourself enjoyable distractions to keep you away from smoking, such as playing with your pets or kids.
Make a commitment to quitting smoking before you begin figuring out how to do so. Lots of people fail when they try to quit due to the fact that they didn’t have the proper mindset, or they simply gave up too fast. You can provide yourself with motivation by thinking of the reasons you wanted to quit to begin with.
Switching the band of cigarette you smoke can help lead you to quitting. Choose a brand that has an unpleasant taste. Do not smoke a greater quantity if you have chosen to purchase light cigarettes. This can help you stop smoking.
The health of your loved ones depends on you to quit smoking. Far from being harmless, secondhand smoke is known to cause cancer, and can lead to other serious medical conditions. By quitting, you not only improve your own health, you are helping the people around you as well. Quitting smoking will not only improve your health, but the health of your family and friends as well.
If you smoke at home, clean your place thoroughly, so it doesn’t smell of smoke. Get your carpet and upholstery professionally cleaned, remove residue from the walls, and run your drapes and curtains through the wash. This will make your house smell clean and fresh, and a smoky smell will not greet you whenever you enter your home.
Quit until you get it right. Many former smokers were unsuccessful on their first attempt to quit. Once you have committed to leaving your smoking habit behind, you must do everything in your power to ensure that you to do not fall victim to the habit again. As soon as you do light up again, set another quit date. Try to last longer each time, and try to learn from your mistakes each time one arises. Each time you attempt to quit smoking, you will develop new tactics which will eventually enable you to quit completely.
As you begin your journey to a smoke free lifestyle, plan a series of rewards as you reach certain milestones. Pick valuable achievement dates such as 24 hours, one week and one month since your quit date. Keep it in a place you visit often, like the refrigerator or bathroom mirror, so you can view it repeatedly. This will help give you strength during moments of weakness.
The Internet is a great place to receive online support from people who have dealt with similar issues. You’ll find many different groups which are open to all or focus on a niche. You may find help by comparing quitting techniques with other smokers. Not to mention, there are those whom have already completed this troublesome journey and simply wish to offer a helping hand from experience and proven results.
You can find support and help on online communities and forums. Many websites exist solely to help people quit their tobacco habit for good. It might help you to compare quitting strategies and coping mechanisms with others. Furthermore, you can rest assured that the people you discuss your issues with will understand where you are coming from.
Be prepared with strategies to help deal with situations that cause anxiety. Your smoking life was filled with reacting to stress by lighting a cigarette. Having a plan in place will ensure you don’t fall prey to your cravings. Have many ideas, just in case your first idea does not help.
You may want to avoid activities associated with smoking once you decide to quit. If you are accustomed to lighting up while you have your first cup of coffee in the morning, or having a smoke while out at happy hour with friends, then change your routine. Having your coffee in the car or avoiding the bar allows you to short circuit your cravings.
When you’re trying to break your smoking habit, be sure to avoid any situations that can potentially make you smoke. If you associate smoking with drinking a cup of coffee in the morning or attending happy hour when the workday is done, you will probably need to adjust your routine. Drink coffee while driving to work and avoid the bar to reduce cravings, as there will be many smokers in this area.
To increase your motivation to stop smoking, keep in mind that your loved ones would be negatively impacted if you became sick as a result of smoking. One out of every five deaths are related to smoking cigarettes in America. Do not become a statistic.
Do not procrastinate your quitting date as this should happen immediately. Don’t set a date in the future that hinges on something else, start today and create the plan and backups that you need to be successful. If you commit to kicking your habit, as soon as possible, you can potentially extend your life by many years. Quitting smoking will also protect your family, as they are likely being exposed to dangerous secondhand smoke.
Think about going to counseling to stop smoking. Sometimes, there are emotional reasons as to why a person smokes. Dealing with such issues may also help your urge to smoke disappear. Ask your doctor to refer you to a counselor if you’re interested in this kind of help.
When you are trying to break the smoking habit, eat a lot of nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables. This will help you quit for a few reasons. To begin with, it gives you a way of occupying your mouth and hands so you do not miss the motions involved in smoking so much. If you do this regularly, it will help reduce weight gain. You also may experience less withdrawal symptoms if you eat these foods because of the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients they contain.
If you feel like you need a cigarette immediately, then try breathing exercises to calm the craving. This will give you a minute to focus and remember why you quit in the first place. This exercise will also help you to relax the tension caused by cravings. Deep breathing is simple and non-intrusive, making it a simple and portable way to calm down.
Construct a mantra regarding the reasons you desire to quit smoking. Every time you feel your resolve wavering, repeat those reasons aloud to yourself over and over until the craving passes. This helps you take your focus off of smoking, and instead you are able to focus on other important things to you.
Stay on top of knowing when your body will crave nicotine. If you know which situations tempt you to smoke, it can make it easier to work out a plan for quitting. Being prepared for cravings will give you a better chance of being able to handle them successfully.
If you are thinking about kicking your cigarette habit, create a detailed list of things that will motivate you to stick with it. Use this list as a last resort to read when you get a strong craving to smoke.
Follow a sensible diet. Do not quit smoking and start a diet in the same week. Maintain a healthy, balanced diet. Smoking effects the taste of fresh fruits, fresh vegetables and some dairy products. However, by consuming these foods, your health will be boosted while your desire to smoke will be weakened.
Follow a smart diet. Now is not the time to diet! Instead, make sure you are eating a healthy diet. There have been studies that have shown that eating low-fat dairy products, veggies and fruits will actually leave you with a bad taste if you are a smoker. By eating these items, you will be giving your health a boost as well as turning you off smoking.
Attempting to stop smoking isn’t easy, and no magic cure exists that will work for all smokers. In spite of the difficulty it is not impossible to quit. Try incorporating the tips from this article into your own strategy and use it along with other forms of support and encouragement. Try these ideas and you might be pleasantly surprised.
Take the time to consider why you want to stop smoking. Reading your list will help to remind you of why you wanted to stop in the first place. Read your list when you get the urge to smoke.