You don’t have to be a genius to see that smoking is not good for you. The adverse affects to your health have been proven over and over again. So what is it that you need in order to make it happen? This article has lots of ideas for you.
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!
Believe it or not, exercise can be the key you need to quitting smoking. Usually, many people smoke because they feel overwhelmed or stressed out. When they feel stressed, they turn to cigarettes for support. Cigarettes can be replaced by exercise. Also, exercise is good for a person’s overall health.
When you are fighting the urge to smoke, go and do some exercise. Not only will your body benefit while you are keeping fit, the physical activity can help to keep the urges at bay. Anything that can be used as a distraction while you are working through the crave is a great tool to use.
Reduce the amount of cigarettes you have each day until you reach zero. Unless there is a health reason for you to stop smoking immediately, quitting tobacco is easier when you do it gradually. Cut back on cigarettes first and quitting will be less of a shock to your body.
If smoking is your reaction to stress, replace it with a positive one. Consider getting a massage when you are stressed or participating in an exercise class. Even doing something simple like taking a bath or enjoying a light snack is a better reaction to stress than smoking is. Doing these things will help you to quit, while still keeping your stress level in check.
If you want to quit smoking, stop buying cigarettes. It kind of goes without saying that if you don’t have cigarettes on you, it will be much more difficult to smoke. Throw away any cigarettes that are currently in your possession and make a pact with yourself not to buy any more.
While you are in the process of quitting smoking, consume vegetables, fruits, seeds and nuts. Eating low calorie and healthy foods helps in quitting smoking for several reasons. For one, constantly having something to do with your hands and mouth can behaviorally replace the motions of smoking. If you do this regularly, it will help reduce weight gain. Additionally, the vitamins and minerals in these foods can offer relief from withdrawal symptoms.
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.
If you are trying to kick the smoking habit, counseling may be a good option to try. There may be underlying emotional reasons attached to your smoking habit. When this issue is dealt with, the urge to smoke also disappears. If this seems like something that would be helpful, talk to your doctor to get a referral for the right person.
Throw away your cigarettes and lighters. This will make it impossible to smoke unless you leave the house. It serves to remind you how much of a hassle it is to smoke and leaves you without any. When you do this, keep yourself busy with other activities so you don’t think about smoking.
If you smoke because of a triggering situation or feeling, when you’re trying to quit do your best to avoid the situations that set off your trigger. For example, if you normally smoke at the end of a meal, chew on some gum instead. If you smoke while in traffic in your car, pick an alternate route or take public transportation. Think of other triggers and ways you can avoid them.
An excellent method of stopping your smoking addiction is to change the brand of cigarettes that you purchase so that smoking won’t be so pleasant for you anymore. Some people get stuck on one brand that they love. When they switch this brand, they likely will not enjoy the new brand. This makes smoking not so appealing to them anymore. This makes it easier for them to quit their smoking.
As you can see, there is a ton of information here that could be that thing you’ve been looking for. That thing that will finally break the spell that cigarettes hold over you.
Good luck on your journey towards better health. Just use these tips to be free from the hold of tobacco.
