If you smoke, you have probably tried to quit at some point, and failed to do so. This may well have been because you just did not have the right information about the best ways to quit for good. This article will teach you some of these proven techniques so you can stop smoking.
Tell your loved ones that you want to quit smoking. They can help support you in your choice. This might just be the extra push that you need to stay on track with your quitting plan.
Don’t Go Cold Turkey
Do not quit cold turkey. It can be tempting to throw out your cigarettes and say, “I quit!” But cold turkey is not the way you want to go. Studies show that over ninety percent of people who try to quit smoking with no medication or therapy end up relapsing. The reason for this is because nicotine is addictive and your brain craves it. Without it, nicotine withdrawal symptoms set in.
In your process to quit smoking, grant yourself rewards along the way to enjoy at the milestones towards your goal. For example, after a week without smoking, treat yourself to a movie. After you make it a month, give yourself a nice dinner at a restaurant you don’t usually go to. Going forward, increase the significance of the rewards until you are completely smoke-free, and don’t even think about it anymore.
Make your family and friends aware of your intention to give up smoking. They are your support system, and are there to remind you to stay resolute in your attempts to quit smoking. It’s hard to quit without a support system. Therefore, to increase your chance of success develop a support system.
To improve your odds of quitting smoking for good, don’t combine your effort to quit with another goal, particularly weight loss. You already have enough stress and cravings to deal with just trying to quit smoking. If you try to wean yourself from something else at the same time, you are likely to fail at both.
If you want to quit smoking, don’t do it. Quitting smoking are two words that imply losing something, making it a grieving process. Instead, psychologically embrace tobacco freedom. Don’t think about how you would make anyone else happy, but what would make you happy if you were free from cigarettes. What could you do with that money and time?
When you’re ready to quit smoking, and have a plan in place to do so, set a firm date after which you won’t smoke anymore. Prepare for the date, and make a big deal out of it. Think of it as the day when you regain control of your life, and make it a joyous occasion.
Avoid emptying your ashtrays. If you see how many cigarettes you have smoked laying the the ashtray, you will be less likely to smoke any more. This will also leave the unsightly butts and their smell behind. This can be helpful because it will remind of you how bad the smell of smoke is.
One way to make it easier to quit smoking is by finding a substitute for cigarettes that you can hold in your mouth or hand. This way, you can gradually replace your cigarettes with something else. A drinking straw can work, or a piece of candy or a pretzel can serve as an effective substitute.
You should create new routines when you are trying to quit smoking. If you tend to smoke when you are having your first cup of coffee, try reading the news on your phone, instead. These daily habits will quickly become ingrained if you are consistent, making quitting easier in the long run.
Try deep breathing techniques to calm your cravings for cigarettes. This will let you refocus for a minute, and you can remember why you wanted to quit. Extra oxygen will be delivered to your lungs and this will help make you feel rejuvenated. Deep breathing can be done anywhere and at any time.
Consider keeping a journal of the smoking habits you have developed. To determine your best approach to quitting, understand what tempts you to cigarettes the most. If you’re prepared for tobacco cravings, you’ll be prepared to deal with them and will be less likely to give in to temptation.
Consider seeing a therapist or life coach to help you stop smoking. Mental health professionals are usually trained to help people overcome addictions. A counselor or coach can help you figure out what’s motivating you to smoke and assist you with coming up with strategies to help you quit smoking.
At this point, you should understand just how important it is to know what the most effective ways to quit smoking are. If you just keep using the same failed techniques over and over, you will never be able to kick the habit. Instead, use the tips from this article to give yourself a chance to quit smoking for good.
