Every smoker has tried to quit at one time or another and have found that it can be very difficult. You can increase your chances of being successful by having support and having tricks in place to help you when you need it.
Use the tips below to create a solid plan for your battle against smoking.
Just get through one day if you’re trying to quit smoking. This is a process that could take months before results are apparent. Take things step by step to maximize your chance for success. Approach quitting on a day-by-day basis. Give yourself credit for every day you succeed, and you might be surprised by how quickly those days turn into weeks.
Make sure you have the right attitude. You can not take quitting as a deprivation. Instead, think of this process as a favor that you are doing for yourself. By quitting you are helping your body and making a healthier change that will in turn lead to a healthier happier you!
You must know why you want to stop smoking. Having shallow reasons, like it is bad for you are not good enough. To really get yourself motivated, you need a personal and powerful reason to quit. Maybe you are scared of lung cancer. Or maybe you would like to keep your family from second hand smoke. It might be because you want to both feel and look younger. Choose a strong reason that outweighs your urge to light up.
When you are quitting smoking, you need to avoid the triggers that you always associated with smoking. For instance, if your triggers include smoking while driving, the end of a meal or driving, try to find alternatives to the cigarette to replace them. Come up with something that can distract you at those times.
Quit smoking to improve your smile. People who smoke often fall victim to yellow teeth, persistent bad breath, and even gum disease. In addition, smoking puts you at risk for mouth cancer. When you quit, your smile will have a chance to become whiter, and you’ll feel more like smiling because your body will be healthier.
Talk to your doctor about prescription medicines. If you want to ease nicotine withdrawal symptoms, consider prescription medications. There are certain medications that affect the chemical balance in your brain and can help reduce cravings. There are also drugs that can reduce bothersome withdrawal symptoms, like inability to concentrate or depression.
Try to reduce smoking at all costs to improve health. This is a great starting point on your quest to quit smoking. Try waiting at least one hour after waking before having your first cigarette for the day. Try smoking just half a cigarette when you do smoke to cut down a little at a time.
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.
Looking at a picture of smoker’s lungs may be all you need to quit smoking. When a person smokes, their lungs turn black after a while and they could end up with lung cancer. As harsh as it may seem, viewing the picture may set off a signal in your brain to quit.
Don’t allow yourself “just one puff”. The mind can sometimes play tricks on you, especially when you’re trying to give up a habit that you have had for years. Don’t allow yourself to give in to the idea that just one cigarette won’t hurt. It will hurt, and it might just keep you from being able to quit at all.
Do not give up. Relapsing is very common. Many smokers have to try several times before they are successful in putting down the cigarettes. Look at what circumstances and emotions lead to the relapse. Once you decide you are ready to try again, set a date to quit in the very near future.
When trying to quit smoking, set a goal. Tell yourself that you want to quit by a certain date and that if you are successful, you will reward yourself with something you have been wanting. You can use the money you saved by not smoking to buy this treat! This will give you the motivation you need.
It is true that most smokers have tried to quit and have failed at least once. There are many reasons for their failure but you can greatly increase your odds for success by learning from others and using tips like the ones in the above article to stay on track and finally achieve success and be a non-smoker at last.
