Quitting smoking is a challenge. Nicotine is a drug that has been compared to heroin in terms of the difficulty of quitting. Setting yourself free of cigarettes requires developing a plan of attack.
This article will help you learn some of the tips and tricks to help you quit smoking successfully.
Make your attempts as manageable as possible. Cold turkey may not be the most effective approach for you. If you try quitting cold turkey, you may end up relapsing. Your chances of success are the greatest with nicotine-replacement therapy or medication. This will ease you through the difficult early withdrawal stages and make quitting easier.
If you are looking for a chemical aid to quit smoking, then be very careful about this approach. Drugs such as Chantix have a relatively weak success rate and can have the potential to cause severe damage to your body. It works by altering your brain chemistry, and can lead to severe depression and suicidal tendencies.
If you smoke as a way to control stress, you’ll want to have other stress remediation techniques ready when you decide to quit. Keep yourself out of situations that may stress you out for the first few weeks after you’ve quit. You can also manage your stress through yoga, meditation or by getting a massage.
Rest is key if you want to seriously quit smoking. People who go to bed at a late hour often have more cravings for a cigarette. You are more likely to be alone late at night and could sneak a cigarette while no one else is with you. If you go to bed and get up on a schedule, you’ll be far more likely to quit smoking for good.
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.
To cut back on smoking cravings, change the habits that once surrounded smoking. For example, if you always smoked on your breaks then see if you can get your breaks at a different time to make it harder to succumb to those cravings. Likewise, if you always had a cigarette with coffee then switch to a new caffeine fix like tea.
Try incorporating deep breathing exercises in your life when you begin to feel the urge to smoke. This will help you calm down when you feel like you need to take a puff. Deep breathing will help you control yourself and stop the urge before you begin to think about giving in.
It is okay to use a nicotine replacement during the beginning stage of your smoking cessation program. Nicotine is highly addictive, and the withdrawal symptoms can be extremely unpleasant. Nicotine gum or lozenges can prevent you from feeling short-tempered, moody and irritable and can be the difference between success and failure.
Avoid situations that you would be more likely to smoke. For example, if a bar that you frequent allows smoking, you may want to think about going to a different bar. By avoiding these kinds of situations, you will be less apt to want to pick up a cigarette in the first place.
Quit slowly by reducing the number you smoke over time. This will put you in the right place to quit smoking. Try waiting an hour or so before having your first cigarette of the day. In addition, you can smoke less by only smoking a half cigarette each time you smoke.
Master stress management. Aside from nicotine withdrawal and simple habit, a primary reason you might start smoking again is stress. If you can’t avoid all stress during the first few weeks after quitting, do whatever it takes to manage your stress in another way than having a cigarette. Get a massage or try a yoga class. Find something new and healthy to replace what you’re giving up.
Quit smoking with a buddy. Having someone else with whom to commiserate and celebrate will make your success even sweeter. Choose a friend, relative, or co-worker who also wants to quit, or pair up with someone on an online support forum. Having someone by your side will make the process much easier to tolerate and will help you stay accountable.
In order to quit this damaging addiction, you need a combination of determination, focus, and a strong plan. Use what you have learned in this article to help you overcome your cravings. While you go through the process, stay motivated by thinking of all of the benefits that will be yours once you have kicked the habit!
