There isn’t a smoker anywhere who does not know that they should stop smoking. No one smokes because of the health benefits it offers; they keep smoking because it is hard to quit. A nonsmoker won’t know what quitting entails. People that used to smoke do know how hard it is though. Keep reading to see what works to quit.
Make a list of the benefits of quitting and the drawbacks to deciding to quit. This helps increase the odds of successfully and permanently kicking your smoking habit. Writing it down can affect your mental outlook. You’ll be able to use the list as motivation whenever you need it, helping to focus you on your goals.
Quitting can be easy if you know how to go about it correctly. Never try to go cold turkey. A massive majority of smokers that try to quit cold turkey fail. Nicotine is extremely addictive, so use a patch, therapy or medication. These therapies can alleviate some of the withdrawal symptoms, which makes it easier to break the habit.
If traditional methods haven’t worked, consider hypnosis. Many people have found it easier to quit smoking after visiting a 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. These affirmations will be in your subconscious, which will aid you on your way to quitting smoking.
Just take each day as it comes. Giving up the tobacco habit is a long process. Don’t worry about what will next year or next month. 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.
Make a list of strategies to help you quit. Sitting down and writing the ways to quit can instill an optimistic attitude and motivation for your journey. Everyone has their own ways of getting things done. It’s vital that you figure out the ways that work best for you. Drafting a personal list will help you to accomplish this.
Stop Smoking
Many people find that taking up a new fitness program, exercise class or physical acivity can make it easier to avoid smoking. Exercise is also a very effective stress reliever. If you do not currently exercise regularly, you can start slowly by walking regularly. Before you begin any type of exercise routine, talk with your doctor.
Take note of all of the methods that you plan to use to stop smoking. Creating a list based on your needs and goals is a great strategy for helping you stop smoking. Everyone will find the techniques that work best for them. To get the best results, it is critical for you to identify your own strengths and weaknesses and the tactics that are most suited to them. Drafting a personal list will help you to accomplish this.
Make sure that you are fully committed before you even start to quit smoking. A lot of people are unable to quit smoking successfully because they are not sufficiently committed, or do not approach it with the proper mindset. You can stay committed by thinking of all the reasons that you wanted to quit in the first place.
Stop smoking on a daily basis. Rather than focusing on never having a cigarette ever again, just concentrate on not lighting up today. For many people, a short time frame is easier to grasp and focus on. As each day passes, extend your timeline a little more into the future.
Start by cutting back on your smoking. This can help you begin to quit smoking. You should at least wait an hour or two before you have a smoke after you wake up. You can smoke just one half a cigarette rather than a whole one to cut down on your smoking.
Ensure that you’re getting an adequate amount of sleep when you’re in the process of giving up your smoking habit. Many people find that keeping late night hours leads to elevated cigarette cravings. Late nights may also be tempting times to sneak a cigarette, especially if the rest of your house is asleep. Eight hours of sleep each night will allow you to remain mentally focused, which keeps you in better control of nasty cravings.
One of the best things you can do to help yourself quit is to not falter if you have a relapse in judgement. Many ex-smokers took several tries before they were successful. Stop smoking, and plan on avoiding cigarettes for as long as possible before lighting back up. If you start smoking again, decide on a new quit date. Just keep on quitting for a day at a time. Those days will soon turn into weeks, and then into months. One time it will stick, so just be patient.
Make an appointment with your doctor if you are experiencing trouble with giving up smoking. Prescription medications may be the ticket to help you. Your doctor can probably also steer you toward other resources, like support groups or hotlines, that can help you quit for good.
If you smoke in your home, give it a very thorough cleaning when you quit. Wash and paint your walls, shampoo or replace your carpet, and launder your window treatments, too. This will make your house smell clean and fresh, and a smoky smell will not greet you whenever you enter your home.
Stay Committed
Attach a reward to every small goal you make. 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. Seeing your future rewards may give you that extra bit of motivation you need when you are feeling weak.
Prior to starting to stop smoking, be able to stay committed to quitting for good. You will likely encounter various obstacles or triggers – stay committed to your goal! You can strengthen your resolve by reminding yourself constantly of the many reasons that make it important for you to quit.
Find support through online forms and message boards. There are quite a few websites entirely focused on helping smokers give up their habit. 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.
Celebrate each milestone along your way to quitting, choosing little rewards you enjoy. You can take yourself out to a new movie release after the first week. Once you reach a month without smoking, go to a special restaurant. After that, keep making the reward better until you’re at a point where smoking is no longer an issue.
During the first few weeks of your quitting attempt, stay away from activities that you associate with smoking. If you’ve always had cigarettes during your happy hour or with your coffee, try changing this type of routine. Having your coffee at work, or avoiding places where smokers congregate, will help you avoid activities that used to be associated with smoking.
Nonsmokers simply can’t understand why anyone would light up when they know smoking causes health issues. They will never understand how difficult quitting is either. Many people have been able to quit, though, and the advice that helped them was just given to you. Put these ideas into action so you can free yourself from this habit.
Always maintain a positive attitude when you are trying to quit smoking. Even the most well-organized, best intentioned quit efforts sometimes fail. Look back and find out what went wrong to learn from your mistakes when you try again. With forethought, you can eventually triumph over smoking!