Smoking is well known for the hold it has on people. There is no denying that trying to quit can be hard. But it is not impossible, and you can do it.
With motivation and support along with helpful techniques and tricks like the ones in this article, you can be on your way to success.
If you have decided to stop smoking, mentally prepare yourself for what’s ahead. Try to focus on the fact that you can stop, and that this is not an impossible dream. Set an official “quit date” and even consider adding it to your calendar. By taking such a positive approach, your chances of quitting will increase.
Remember that smoking cessation is really all about replacing one behavior with another. For most people, it is primarily the physical act of smoking that is the major draw. It signifies “me time” and a break from a hectic schedule or a boring job. Choose ahead of time exactly what behavior you will replace those smoking minutes with, and then do it!
Make a list of reasons that you want to quit smoking, and keep them in your wallet. Your reasons may include your family, living to see a special event, or anything you find meaningful. Whenever you have moments of weakness, pull out your list for several reminders of what you are working toward.
If you are finding that you aren’t enjoying food and drinks as much as you used to, consider quitting smoking. Smoking can cause damage to the taste buds in your mouth, meaning that you don’t recognize tastes in the same way. If you quit, your taste buds will soon recuperate, meaning you will be able to enjoy your favorite meals once again.
Remember that false starts are common when people try to quit smoking. Even if you’ve tried and failed to quit before, you should always keep trying. Ultimately, any reduction in your smoking habit is good for you, so as long as you are trying to quit you are improving your life and health.
Receiving support from friends and family members can go a long way in helping you to quit smoking. It’s especially important to remind them that getting over an addiction can cause mood swings and irritability. If people close to you are understanding of the situation, it will make relapsing that much easier to avoid.
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.
You’ll be more successful in your attempt to quit smoking if you ease down on how many cigarettes you smoke per day. You can create a set schedule for when you can smoke, and how many cigarettes per day you’ll smoke, gradually letting yourself smoke fewer and fewer until a set date when you’ll completely stop.
Think about how good you felt before you smoked. Focus on how healthy, happy and active you were as a smoke-free child. Think about the foods you loved, the scents you loved and how fit you were, this will give you added incentive to stop smoking.
Start exercising! If you are active it can help to reduce symptoms of withdrawal and nicotine cravings. Rather than reaching for a cigarette, get off the couch and exercise, or go for a walk. This will really help to take off your mind of smoking, and is also a great way to improve your physical fitness.
Prepare to say goodbye. Smoking is not a habit, it is a relationship. You will grieve the loss of an old friend. So you need to be prepared to go through the six stages of grieving a loss and parting ways with your smoker self. Think back to how you have said goodbye to things in the past and apply the successful tricks you used then.
Add exercise to your regular routine if you are trying to smoke. Physical activity can help you to deal with the nicotine cravings you will experience. Exercise can help to lessen these withdrawal symptoms. Get out and walk the dog or dig in your garden, and you will have an easier time quitting smoking.
Abstain from alcohol when you first quit smoking. Many people associate smoking and drinking, so the temptation to smoke will be higher if you drink. If you don’t want to stop drinking altogether, limit yourself to drinking in restaurants or bars so that you’ll have to go outside if you want to smoke. You might decide it’s not worth the effort if you have to leave the table to smoke.
It is a fact that smoking can have a very tight hold on smokers. But it is entirely possible to break free and become a successful non-smoker.
Increase your chances of success by creating a plan that includes helpful techniques and tips like the ones in the above article, and break free of smoking for good.
