It is a fact that many people around the world smoke cigarettes. Some of these people would like to quit, but they simply do not know how. In the following article, you are going to be given vital tips that will set you on the path to a smoke-free life.
Once you’ve decided to quit smoking, find a support group. You’ll gain a lot of sympathy, advice and support by building relationships with people that have gone or are going through the same thing. They will offer invaluable support and guidance, as well as insider tips that can help you quit. Inquire at your local churches, colleges and universities, and YMCA to find out if they run support groups.
To aid in smoking cessation, remove yourself from your circle of friends who smoke. Don’t worry; this is just a temporary measure, but you really do need to do this. Constant exposure to cigarette smoke, plus the social aspect of smoking together, will automatically squash your hopes for success.
If you’re doing well on your stop smoking journey, don’t forget to reward yourself. Treat yourself to a nice massage, a pedicure, or a special new outfit when you’ve cut back, and then something else when you’ve stopped entirely. You need to have rewards like this to look forward to, as they can help to keep you motivated.
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!
While in the process of quitting smoking, allow yourself a reward as you reach certain milestones. For instance, enjoy a movie with a special friend after the first week has gone by. Once you’ve been smoke free for a month, go to a nice restaurant, one that is special to you. After that, continue to reward yourself once in awhile until smoking is no longer on your mind at all.
Always keep in mind that there is only one outcome from taking another puff of a cigarette. That outcome is smoking again at the level that you were at, until the habit cripples you and you are in the hospital dying. This is a scary truth that will help you stay on track.
If your goal is to finally stop smoking, you need to practice your skills at quitting. Many ex-smokers took several tries before they were successful. Quit smoking, and just plan on going as long as you can without starting back up. As soon as you do light up again, set another quit date. Just continue to quit and try to stop longer each time, and continue to learn along your journey. Eventually, you will quit for good and never light another cigarette again.
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.
Enlist your friends and family to support you with your decision to stop smoking. Those closest to you can be a real help in keeping you on track and smoke-free. Inform everyone of your intentions to quit smoking before your quit date, and let them know specifically how they can be of best help to you.
Increasing the amount of exercise you do can help you quit smoking. Exercise not only distracts you from smoking, but it also helps to reverse all the damage you have done to your body over the years by smoking cigarettes. Start slowly if you have to, and gradually increase the amount of exercise you do each day.
Before you quit, identify your triggers and plan ways around them. If you always smoke when you drink, abstain from alcohol for a while. If smoking before, during or after meals is a common practice for you, change up your meal plans or environments to prevent this. Track your smoking times and places to know when and where you light up, and adapt accordingly.
You should make sure you have an appropriate reward system in place for such a difficult task. You will want to reward yourself for at least the first three days of quitting and the first two weeks. After that, monthly milestones are worth a celebration until you hit the annual mark. You can choose your reward based on the time elapsed as well, making success that much sweeter.
As you probably already know, millions of people worldwide are smokers. Usually, a smoker cannot quit their habit because they don’t know where to begin. By properly utilizing the advice this article has provided to you, you will not only become smoke-free, but you will be improving your overall well-being.
