A lot of people desire to quit smoking, but they feel that it is too hard and that they do not possess the willpower required to quit. The following free advice can help you to make a realistic but effective plan for giving up nicotine for good.
Make your self a list of the reasons to and the reasons not to stop smoking. When you put something in writing, it often has an affect on your entire mental outlook. This can help you stay motivated, and may make quitting easier.
Get into a fitness routine by joining a gym and occupy your smoking time with beneficial exercise. Exercise is a proven stress-reliever, and people who are quitting smoking will need stress relievers! You can ease into a healthier lifestyle by starting to take a daily walk and working your way up to strenuous activity. Before you begin any type of exercise routine, talk with your doctor.
In addition to quitting smoking, you should also cut back on foods and drinks that trigger nicotine cravings. For example, you will be more vulnerable to your nicotine addiction when you drink alcohol. If you regularly drink coffee when you smoke, then you should cut back on that too to reduce craving-inducing associations.
Blow off some steam to keep yourself from blowing smoke. One of the most effective ways for you to work through nicotine cravings is to exercise. As an added bonus, you will feel the effects of your improving health more readily if you subsidize quitting smoking with a more rigorous exercise routine.
Do not try to set a day to quit. Instead of trying to make a plan, quit today. This sort of planning nearly never works and it will lead to disappointment. Start quitting right away, rather than trying to create an imaginary timeline for yourself. Take action and you will get where you want to be.
Have true faith in the fact that you can quit smoking. You must believe it in order truly quit. You can’t go into it half-heartedly. Consider all the tough things you have accomplished in other aspects of your life, and use those memories to fuel your full commitment to stopping smoking.
While part of the idea of quitting smoking is to save money, treat yourself to a reward now and again with the money that you haven’t spent on cigarettes. These treats give your something to look forward to and serve as a reminder of the things you may not have been able to buy as a smoker.
As bad as your urge is, it is not okay to take even one little puff. People who are trying to quit smoking believe that it will not harm them to have one puff of a cigarette. The problem is, this one puff leads to one whole cigarette, and then to one whole pack.
Once you get to the point that you should be done smoking altogether, throw away any extra tobacco products. This reduces the temptation to have “just one more cigarette.” You should also get rid of any cigarette paraphernalia that could trigger cravings, including everything from a favorite lighter to ashtrays to your old butts.
Remember that the hardest part of quitting is usually those first couple of days. Mentally prepare yourself to tough it out for just the first two days, and then just the first week, and you will probably be in good shape after that. Your body will be doing a good amount of detoxifying in those first few days and if you can make it through that stage, you can make it through anything.
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.
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.
Use visualization in order to assist you in quitting your smoking habit. When doing deep breathing exercises, shut your eyes, and imagine yourself being a non-smoker. Imagine yourself not giving in to temptation. Imagine winning a medal for not smoking. These types of programs, referred to as “quit smoking hypnosis,” are extremely effective.
You will probably find that the decision to quit smoking is one of the toughest decisions you’ll ever make. This doesn’t need to be an impossible task. You have to be patient, determined and strong willed. A little advice will also go a long way in helping you to successfully quit. Using the tips in the article above will help you accomplish your goal sooner than you thought.
