Your loved ones have begged you to give up smoking. Your physician probably urges you to also. You can even get a discount on your insurance for quitting. So, what is holding you back? Read the tips in this article to find a method that works for you and stop smoking for good.
When the urge to smoke becomes overwhelming, try using a delay tactic. Try to distract your mind and your body for 10 minutes by going for a walk or calling a friend; in this time your urge will probably have passed. If you still feel the urge, try to keep distracting yourself for 10 minute increments to put off smoking for as long as possible.
Write down reasons why you should quit to increase the chances that you actually do quit. Writing things down can change your whole mindset. It will help you stay motivated and focused on success, possibly making quitting a little easier.
Some people don’t like the idea of quitting cold turkey, so give nicotine replacement therapy a try. These nicotine replacements will help you quit by supplying your body with a small amount of the drug to help curb withdrawal.
Cold Turkey
Consider nicotine replacement therapy. As you are going through nicotine withdrawal, you might feel irritable, restless, frustrated or depressed. A lot of the cravings are quite overwhelming. You can try nicotine-replacement therapy if you are having nicotine withdrawal. Studies show that individuals who use nicotine gums, patches or lozenges double their chances of quitting successfully. But, you should never use these nicotine replacements while you are still smoking.
Be easy when you quit smoking. Cold turkey may not be the most effective approach for you. Statistically, people who try cold turkey fail 95% of the time. Because nicotine is so addicting, a patch, medication, or therapy may be helpful. This will increase your likelihood of quitting for good.
Let your loved ones know that you want to stop smoking. They’re there to remind you and help you quit. Having a support system is the best way to quit. The chance of being successful in your quest to give up smoking will be increased significantly.
If you feel you have to smoke a cigarette, then try to put off your first one as long as possible. Tell yourself that you have to take a walk before you can smoke, or even just finish a large glass of water before you smoke. Just a little extra time before you light up might stop you from smoking that cigarette. If you do end up smoking a cigarette, at least you will have smoked one less cigarette that day.
One of the best things you can do to help yourself quit is to not falter if you have a relapse in judgement. Very few smokers are successful at quitting the first time they try. Stop smoking, and plan on avoiding cigarettes for as long as possible before lighting back up. If you do relapse, set a new date to quit again. Quit for longer and longer periods of time each time. Eventually, one of your efforts will become permanent.
As with other addictions, approach each day without a cigarette as a small victory. Don’t think about quitting for the rest of your life — just think about today. Having a shorter time horizon makes it easier physically and mentally. You can always have more goals that go well into the future as soon as you get comfortable with the commitment to quit.
Create a plan to reward yourself each time you reach a milestone in your quitting efforts. Create a list of the rewards you will give yourself when you’ve made it past certain dates. Put that list somewhere where you can see it prominently each day. It might provide inspiration and motivation during difficult times.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
Think of strategies that provide frequent visual reminders to keep your mind motivated constantly. Perhaps posting inspirational signs on your wall, or having a piece of jewelry that reminds you of your efforts will help. Whatever method you choose, this type of visual reminder may help you ward off craving and temptation.
You may want to try nicotine replacement therapy. Nicotine withdrawal is very powerful and can lead to depression, feelings of restlessness, and becoming frustrated or irritable. You can be overwhelmed with cravings. Nicotine replacement therapy is a great way to help deal with cravings. Studies show that individuals who use nicotine gums, patches or lozenges double their chances of quitting successfully. However, do not use nicotine replacement products while smoking.
You can find support in the form of online forums. There are many websites that help people quit smoking. Talk with other people and share your tips with them. Furthermore, you can rest assured that the people you discuss your issues with will understand where you are coming from.
Prior to starting the smoking cessation process, it is important to be certain that you can stay motivated and committed. Most people who quit do so because of a lack of willpower. It is possible for you to maintain a high level of commitment by keeping in mind the reasons why you want to quit.
Get a workout in. Once you have quit smoking, it will be easier to adopt a fitness program. Endurance and lung capacity will improve noticeably. Regular physical exercise can also help you to keep your body weight under control. Although you get tremendous benefits from the endorphin’s produced through exercise, it won’t replace the nicotine high, but at least it will help calm down your cravings to smoke.
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. At the one month point, dine out at a restaurant you’ve been interested in checking out. Continue creating rewards to work towards until you forget about smoking and are ready to move past it completely.
Substitue a healthy habit like exercise for your smoking. An exercise session triggers release of mood-elevating endorphins and also provides a needed distraction from thinking about smoking. 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.
Stop Smoking
Try deep breathing techniques to calm your cravings for cigarettes. When you are focusing on your breathing, focus also on why you want to quit smoking. You will also feel better thanks to the extra oxygen. These techniques are simple, effective and, best of all, free!
One way to stop smoking is to get better at quitting. It is important to stay persistent, as you may fail the first time. Stop smoking, and plan on avoiding cigarettes for as long as possible before lighting back up. If you do start up again, immediately pick a new “quit” date. Just keep quitting and go longer each time, learning along the way. Eventually, you will quit for good.
Many ex-smokers say that one of the hardest addictions to overcome when stopping smoking is the oral fixation associated with cigarette smoking. For example, you may wish to always carry hard candies or a pack of bubble gum. Others find electronic cigarettes offer fast relief.
If you have been smoking inside your house, give it a complete scrub-down, once you have quit. You should clean your upholstery and carpets, cleanse the walls and have your curtains and drapes cleaned. This way, your fresh smelling house won’t remind you of smoking.
Be sure that you follow a regular diet. Do not attempt to diet while you are trying to quit smoking. You should eat in a balanced way. Smoking effects the taste of fresh fruits, fresh vegetables and some dairy products. These healthy foods will help reduce your cigarette cravings.
You need to look for ways to have high motivation at all times. This could mean placing motivational messages on office walls, or even wearing bracelets that remind you of your intentions. Either way, you need to have visual reminders in order to help you when you experience temptations and cravings.
Take the time to consider why you want to stop smoking. Jot down a few of your top reasons for quitting, and carry the paper in your wallet or pocket. Whenever you feel like having a cigarette, pull out your list of reasons and remind yourself of why you quit in the first place.
Search for support through online communities and forums. There are many websites that help people stop smoking. You can find it useful to compare some techniques with others. If you have a support system made up of others that are quitting, this will help you deal with any trouble you may have.
Tell everyone you know that you want to stop smoking. All of those people can not only provide support, but they can help you stay accountable. You will try to avoid disappointing those people, or falling short of their belief in you. You may be surprised how effective this tactic can be in resisting your cravings during the periods when you’re really struggling.
Now you’re well equipped with the information you need to kick the habit for good. Quitting makes you happier, healthier, and it will extend your lifespan by many years. Take the money you are saving and treat your family for supporting you; they deserve it!
In the early days of quitting, schedule your time to visit places that are non-smoking. Go check out a bunch of movies at the local theater, or perhaps go with a group of friends to a museum. Whenever you go out and get coffee, sit inside with the other non-smokers, rather than out on the smoking deck. By sticking to locations where smoking is not allowed, you give yourself a real shot to beat those cravings.