If you’ve been smoking for a long time, you might be afraid that quitting is going to be close to impossible. Although it’s not usually easy to quit, most people can do so with determination, effort and knowledge of the best techniques. Read on for some information about ways to help you stop smoking.
If you are trying to quit smoking all together then you need to commit and stop carrying your cigarettes around with you. If you do not have cigarettes with you then you make it less convenient to smoke. This will make it easier for you to quit in the long run.
Remember that your attitude is everything. When you are beginning to feel down, you need to try to make yourself proud that you are quitting. Smoking is bad for you and each time you conquer the urge to smoke, you should feel proud as you are taking vital steps toward a healthier you.
Try to create a list of reasons why you are quitting. Keep it handy. This list will serve as a reminder of all the things that you are getting by quitting in the long run. Every time you feel the urge to smoke, try to take a good long look at your list and it will help you stick to your plan.
When you are first trying to quit smoking, try to avoid places that you associate with smoking. This might mean staying away from your favorite bar or the smoking spot at work. Staying away from these places also means staying away from temptation, which can be a very important thing to do when you are first trying to quit.
Starting an exercise regimen is a great way to support yourself when you’re trying to quit smoking. Under the advice of a doctor, ease yourself into the regimen, especially if you’ve been a heavy smoking for many years. The exercise will help you not only repair some of the damage smoking has done to your body, but is also a great stress reliever as well.
Avoid triggering that make you want to smoke. Alcohol is a trigger for many, so when you are quitting, try to drink less. If coffee is your trigger, for a couple of weeks drink tea instead. If you like to smoke after eating a meal, do something else rather like taking a walk or brushing your teeth.
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.
When you are trying to quit smoking, do not attempt to do it overnight. Nicotine addiction is powerful, and it is going to take you some time to wean yourself off of it. You are much more likely to relapse if you quit cold turkey, so take it slow and get it right the first time.
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.
Check with your health department, local clinics, or doctor’s office for information about local support groups for those who want to quit smoking. Talking to others who are quitting can provide valuable coping tips, support, and motivation. This may prove especially helpful if your friends and family are not supportive of your desire to quit.
When you decide to quit smoking, it is vital to be determined to never give up. The majority of people who quit successfully don’t do it on their first try. Look closely and calmly at your slips to figure out what caused you to smoke. After you’ve done this work, return to your plan and get through the rest of your day without another cigarette.
Fill the hole that quitting smoking leaves in your life with more exciting and productive endeavors. That could mean putting together a book group for your lunch breaks or going for a jog whenever you feel the urge to have a cigarette. If you focus your mind and energy on improving other areas of your life, you won’t even miss smoking.
Remember when you begin quitting that the law of addiction is absolutely a part of the equation. This “law” basically emphasizes that giving a drug of choice to an addicted person within the detoxification period will immediately reinstate an addiction. This can be be a worse addiction than it was originally, making smoking within the first 72 hours not worth it!
Quitting smoking isn’t easy, but it is possible. The strategies you just read can help you to quit with a minimum of pain or frustration. Pick a couple of strategies and start working on kicking your smoking habit today. Soon you’ll be able to enjoy the benefits of being smoke-free.
