Are you looking to quit smoking? Has quitting escaped your grasp once before, or maybe even several times? There is no need to lose hope that you will accomplish your goal to quit smoking. You may simply need to approach your efforts in a fresh new way.
Try the following advice on your next attempt to quit smoking.
Replace your pack of cigarettes with an electronic cigarette. Many former smokers have found success with these devices, which work by vaporizing a liquid that contains nicotine. When the user exhales, the cloud looks just like smoke, but it’s actually vapor. Using one of these devices can make it much easier to quit smoking, since it simulates the act so effectively.
Stop smoking now, not only for yourself, but for any loved ones that you have. Consider the dangers of secondhand smoke and realize that you are putting your family at risk of falling victim to these dangers every day. This should certainly motivate you to stop. By quitting, you not only improve your own health, you are helping the people around you as well. When you quit, you will be improving not only your own health, but also the health of the people who live with you.
Try incorporating deep breathing exercises in your life when you begin to feel the urge to smoke. This will help you calm down when you feel like you need to take a puff. Deep breathing will help you control yourself and stop the urge before you begin to think about giving in.
It is okay to use a nicotine replacement during the beginning stage of your smoking cessation program. Nicotine is highly addictive, and the withdrawal symptoms can be extremely unpleasant. Nicotine gum or lozenges can prevent you from feeling short-tempered, moody and irritable and can be the difference between success and failure.
Blow off some steam to keep yourself from blowing smoke. One of the most effective ways for you to work through nicotine cravings is to exercise. As an added bonus, you will feel the effects of your improving health more readily if you subsidize quitting smoking with a more rigorous exercise routine.
To stay motivated to quit cigarettes for good, use the money you save to reward yourself. Figure out how much money you will save by quitting in advance, and put the money you would spend on cigarettes into a special place. Every time you reach a minor goal, use that money to reward yourself with something nice.
Make a list of healthy things you can do to relieve stress, anxiety or frustration. For many people, smoking is a way to relieve stress. Your list can help you find a better, healthier way of coping with negative feelings so that you won’t be as tempted to smoke when you’re having a bad day.
Don’t give up if you slip up. Anytime someone tries to give something up that they have been doing for years, there will likely be a struggle. When that struggle exists, slip ups often happen. If you do slip up, get right back on track and try again. The worst thing you can do is turn a slip up into an excuse to keep smoking, so don’t do it.
You can replace your smoking habit with positive coping habits instead. This means really looking inside yourself and examining your habits. If you smoke when you are stressed out, consider how you can diffuse the negative energy instead. Some people find solace in meditative and deep breathing exercises, but you can experiment with a variety of techniques to find one that suits you.
Before beginning to quit, talk with your doctor about your intentions. Your doctor can advise you on the best methods to quit, and if need be, can provide you with prescription drugs to aid your quitting. Also, your doctor can be an important sounding board throughout your entire quitting experience.
Be honest with yourself about how much money you spend on smoking, and don’t plan on using that money for something else. If you quit to save money for bills, your bills will just continue stressing you out while you no longer have the stress release that a good cigarette gives. Figure out what your smoking budget is, and then when you quit, continue spending that amount on yourself in a healthier way.
You may want to think about getting acupuncture done to quit smoking. This method involves the acupuncturist using small needles and inserting them into the pressure points in your body that control your urge to smoke. Some acupuncturists even accept insurance, as long as quitting will help a pre-existing medical condition.
As you can see, quitting smoking is well within your grasp. You can learn to overcome your addiction with the knowledge you need to conquer your cravings. You will be a more confident person without a physiological addiction in your way, so consider these tips and set a quit-date today!
