The decision to stop smoking can be one of the best choices that you can make for your health and your life. So it makes sense to put everything into it when you decide to quit to ensure success. Think of the things that motivate you, find a support system, and use tips like the ones in this article to create a plan that is sure to succeed.
Sometimes when you’re trying to quit smoking, scare tactics can help. Scan a few pictures of cancer patients, individuals who have aged significantly due to cigarettes, or damaged lungs. Keep these in view at all times and they just might scare you into staying away from those dangerous cigarettes.
In the event that the urge to smoke melts your resolve, at least attempt to put it off as long as possible. To help you postpone your cigarette as long as possible, consider taking a walk or enjoying a some water before smoking. Perhaps the extra few minutes spent occupying your mind with something else can prevent you from smoking. Even if you do take that cigarette, you may still be reducing your total count for the day by one.
If you’re trying to quit smoking, try quitting cold turkey. This method is the easiest in the long run. While this may seem a lot more difficult when you are starting out, it is much easier than stringing your self along. Be honest with your self and commit to the quit and you will be off cigarettes fairly easily.
Replace your pack of cigarettes with an electronic cigarette. Many former smokers have found success with these devices, which work by vaporizing a liquid that contains nicotine. When the user exhales, the cloud looks just like smoke, but it’s actually vapor. Using one of these devices can make it much easier to quit smoking, since it simulates the act so effectively.
Try to avoid alcohol if you’re trying to quit smoking. Alcohol and cigarettes are naturally complimentary to each other. In addition, alcohol lowers your mental focus, meaning you are more likely to give in to temptation or peer pressure. If you avoid alcohol, you’re more likely to stay clear of mind. This might just mean that quitting becomes a bit easier.
It is important to realize that although cold turkey may work for one person, it may not work for you. People think that they can quit smoking on their own and only end up going back because they tried too much, too fast. You may require an aid for quitting, such as a nicotine patch.
If the cigarettes you smoke after meals are some of the hardest to give up, replace the habit of smoking after eating with brushing your teeth or chewing minty gum. Slowly, you will break your old habit and build a much healthier association between finishing a meal and freshening your breath.
Reduce the number of cigarettes that you smoke. This is the first step to reaching your goal of a smoke-free life. It is wise to hold off for at least 60 minutes prior to having the initial cigarette of each day. Try smoking just half a cigarette when you do smoke to cut down a little at a time.
If you are an indoor smoker, be sure to clean your home thoroughly, when you give up smoking. Steam-clean or shampoo your carpet and furniture, scrub the walls and wash your curtains and drapes. The smell will be refreshing and not remind you of cigarettes as you walk around your home. Keep cigarettes out of you mind by eliminating the smells.
Don’t give up if you slip up. Anytime someone tries to give something up that they have been doing for years, there will likely be a struggle. When that struggle exists, slip ups often happen. If you do slip up, get right back on track and try again. The worst thing you can do is turn a slip up into an excuse to keep smoking, so don’t do it.
Find out specifics on how quitting smoking will improve your health. There are many statistics out there about how dramatically different your odds of contracting diseases are if you don’t smoke. Find out too how soon you can expect to experience other small perks like improved breathing and sense of taste.
If you are pregnant, or plan or becoming that way, then use this as a serious motivation to stop smoking. Statistics say that women who smoke while carrying a child, especially in the first trimester, will cause the infant to have a decreased body weight. This will in turn affect their health, potentially throughout childhood.
You probably know a lot of the great benefits that your decision to smoking will bring. Keep those in mind to motivate you, and don’t forget to keep the tips from the above article in mind when you feel your resolve slipping, or when you have a craving to smoke. Take it one day at a time and you will soon be a non-smoker.
