Your loved ones desperately want you to stop smoking. You physician echoes the sentiment. You’ll even get a discount on your health insurance if you can quit smoking. So, why haven’t more people quit yet? The time is now, so keep reading in order to find strategies on how to quit smoking and do not ever look back.
As you work on quitting, steer clear of the things that you mentally link with smoking. If you like to have a cigarette with coffee you can switch to tea, for example. Choose another activity instead of smoking while engaging in these activities. This will distract you from cigarette cravings.
If you want to quit smoking, you need to identify factors that will motivate you to stop. Preventing lung cancer, tooth decay, gum disease and emphysema, or protecting your family are strong motivators. Showing respect for your body and for the gift of life is also a powerful motivating force. Whatever reason you choose, it needs to be enough to prevent you from lighting up again in the future.
If you are looking for a quick pick me up like a cigarette gives you, try to have a glass of juice instead. This will help you cut down on the amount of cigarettes you have each day, and give you something that is healthy to replace smoking with.
Have alternate coping mechanisms in place to deal with the stress that you used handle by smoking before you attempt to quit. Avoid as many stressful situations as possible in the early stages of your attempt to quit. Soothing music, yoga and massage can help you deal with any stress you do encounter.
The decision to quit smoking entails a massive lifestyle change, so be sure you are ready for the commitment before you plunge into it. You should take time to sit down and create a dedicated plan to quitting smoking. This plan should entail account for your unique situation and triggers as well.
If you are trying to quit with the use of crutches such as patches and medication, then you need to be careful. When you begin taking in these other substances, you are in turn putting yourself at risk of developing a new dangerous addiction. Be careful when you begin your quitting crutches.
Try some vigorous exercise. You might be surprised by how much easier and more pleasurable exercise is now that you’re not smoking. Increased exercise will also ensure that you don’t gain any weight after quitting. Even though endorphins produced from exercise does not replace nicotine cravings, it can reduce the urge.
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.
Think like a baby trying to walk. Don’t quit forever; quit for an hour first. When you can, quit for a day. Next, quit for a week and then a month. Just make every quit attempt go longer than the last, building on your success. One time, you will target a high number and just never get around to starting back up.
If you’re experiencing a craving for a cigarette, try taking deep breaths. When you are focusing on your breathing, focus also on why you want to quit smoking. Extra oxygen will be delivered to your lungs and this will help make you feel rejuvenated. Deep breathing exercises are so easy to do and you can do them anywhere at virtually any time.
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.
Monitor your smoking habits. This will help you to eliminate temptation during the course of the day. If you know when you are most vulnerable to those cravings, it will be easier to prepare yourself to avoid them.
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.
You can now feel better prepared to start kicking this habit. Once you quit, you will feel happier and healthier. You will also be adding some extra years to your life. Save the money you would have spent on cigarettes and buy something nice for your family.
