Many people would like to quit smoking, but they become discouraged before they even give it a chance. Quitting can be attained by having a positive attitude, and the right tricks that can help you, like the ones written in this article. Follow these tips, and quitting becomes simple.
To increase your chances of being successful in your efforts to quit smoking, consider writing out a list of pros and cons of quitting. When you write something down, it can work to adjust your frame of mind. By making this list, you can spark your interest and motivation in quitting, and help you focus on quitting so that you can more easily stop smoking.
Day-by-day is the only way to go about quitting smoking. Don’t think about quitting for the rest of your life — just think about today. With a shorter time frame, it will be an easier mental and physical task. Once you are committed to short term quitting, thinking about the long term will be easier.
Stop smoking as soon as you can. Do not attempt quitting the cold turkey way. Quitting cold turkey is only effective about 5% of the time. Your chances of success are the greatest with nicotine-replacement therapy or medication. The most difficult stage is the initial few days and these products can help ease that difficulty and increase your chances for success.
Commit your free time and energy to exercising more, both as a means of improving your health and as a means of avoiding cigarettes. You can experience great stress relief through exercise. If you do not exercise normally, you can start by taking short walks outside daily. Before you begin any type of exercise routine, talk with your doctor.
You may wish to join a support group when you decide to stop smoking. It’s helpful to meet other ex-smokers because they understand what you’re experiencing and can help you through your struggles. People with experience quitting, or going through the same thing as you, can offer their own tips and advice. Support groups can be found at recreational centers, community colleges, or churches locally.
Nicotine Replacement
Make sure you take the process one day at the time. Remember that quitting will always be a process, and it doesn’t usually happen over night. Because of this, it’s counterproductive to think too far ahead. Do not spend your time worrying about tomorrow; focus on avoiding cigarettes one day at a time.
Think about using nicotine replacement alternatives when you stop smoking. This type of therapy aims to reduce the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal, including depression, restlessness, and irritability. Cravings can be very hard to deal with. Nicotine replacement products such as gum can be very effective in dealing with cravings. Smokers who use nicotine gum, patches, or lozenges as an aid in trying to quit double their chances of succeeding. It is very dangerous to smoke while using these products; therefore, to protect yourself avoid smoking if you are using nicotine replacement therapies.
Make a list and itemize all the methods you will use to make this lofty goal. Taking time to customize your personal list, is an excellent help in accomplishing your goal. Each person accomplishes their goals differently. 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. This is accomplished when you create your own list.
When you are ready to stop smoking, do everything you can to make your commitment strong and sure. Failure to successfully quit can often be attributed to not keeping the right mental attitude and simply resigning to giving up. Keep your motivation for quitting in mind at all times.
To stave off the weight gain normally associated with stopping smoking, gear your diet away from sweets, and towards fruits and vegetables. People can gain weight when they quit smoking, so be mindful of what you put into your mouth, making these veggie snacks a great idea. Expect quitting to make you crave food, so have plenty of healthy food ready.
Start by cutting back on your smoking. Smoking less can be a good place to begin your plan to stop smoking. Try waiting a minimum of one hour after you wake up before having your fist cigarette. You can also try to only smoke half of a cigarette at a time to cut back on smoking.
A good way to quit smoking is nicotine replacement therapy. Nicotine withdrawal can lead you feeling restless, irritable, frustrated or depressed. Cravings can be very hard to deal with. Nicotine replacement products such as gum can be very effective in dealing with cravings. Studies have shown that people who use some sort of nicotine replacement product are twice as likely to successfully quit smoking. It is very dangerous to smoke while using these products; therefore, to protect yourself avoid smoking if you are using nicotine replacement therapies.
Give your home a fresh start, too, by cleaning away the smoky smell. You should clean your upholstery and carpets, cleanse the walls and have your curtains and drapes cleaned. This will make your home smell clean, and the absence of the smell of the cigarettes will help you avoid being reminded of the habit that has plagued your life anytime you enter your home.
Talk to your doctor if you plan to quit smoking. Your doctor could have quitting resources you might not have in your possession. Additionally, your doctor may prescribe medications to make quitting easier for you, so long as he or she feels that such treatments are appropriate for your situation.
Stay away from the kind of situations where you would be tempted to smoke. 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. Switching to herbal tea or not going to the bar can help you to avoid your cravings while they’re at their worst.
The health of your loved ones depends on you to quit smoking. Secondhand smoke causes lung disease, cancer, and other health problems to everyone around you. When you quit, you lower their exposure to secondhand smoke. By stopping smoking, you will not only protect yourself, but you will also protect your loved ones.
Take into consideration the effects on your family that could be caused by your bad smoking habit and use it as motivation to help you quit. According to U.S. statistics, twenty percent of all deaths are directly related to smoking. Do you really want to be another statistic?
Would switching brands help you in your goal? Switching to a poor brand can negatively alter your perception of smoking. Smoke them exactly like you smoked your favorite brand, so you get the full experience of their nastiness. This will help you on the way to quitting smoking.
Look at quitting as something you are earning, rather than something you are sacrificing. You will be able to quit smoking sooner and remain smoke-free, if you think positively about quitting. Put the value of quitting in your sights and imagine your life without smoking constantly. Remembering these positives will help you stay motivated to quit smoking.
Make sure to tell your family and friends you have decided to quit smoking. They have your back and will help you keep your goal in sight. If you surround yourself with a strong support system, it will be a big help in your battle to quit. Such a system can greatly up your odds of success.
Create a mantra of the most important reasons you have to stop smoking. Whenever you feel your willpower falter, repeat your reasons for quitting to yourself until your craving has passed. This is valuable way to use your mental strength to overpower the withdrawal yearnings you might encounter and refocus it on things that are important to you.
Practice becoming a good quitter until you can permanently quit smoking. Ask any former smoker you know; he or she probably didn’t succeed after just one attempt. Just stop immediately, and be a nonsmoker for as long as possible. Once you light up again, choose another quit date. Every time you have to quit, allow yourself as long as possible. Let each mistake be a learning opportunity. Eventually, you’ll get so good at it that you’ll quit one time and just not go back.
Deep Breathing
Keep your motivation to quit smoking in your mind and vision all of the time. For example, you could put messages on your walls or refrigerator. Whatever method you use, the visual reminders might be helpful in combating the cravings at a later time.
Deep breathing is one effective way to cope with cravings. This distracts you from the discomfort, and allows you a moment of serenity in an otherwise stressful situation. Furthermore, deep breathing increases oxygen intake and encourages you to feel refreshed. These techniques are simple, effective and, best of all, free!
Remind yourself of the bleak consequences smoking has on your health. One out of every five deaths can be tied to cigarettes! Do not become a number!
Most people want to quit, but few are willing to put in the effort to do it. The people whom actually succeed with their efforts to stop smoking are the ones that form a plan and stick to their design; no matter what. Use the tricks and tips in the article able to create a battle plan for yourself, and success could be yours.
Stop smoking immediately. Instead of choosing a day down the road to quit, do it today. When you quit, you are reducing the risk of having adverse health affects. In addition, you will be protecting those around you from the dangerous effects of smoke that they inhale second hand.