Are you looking to quit smoking? Has quitting escaped your grasp once before, or maybe even several times? There is no need to lose hope that you will accomplish your goal to quit smoking. You may simply need to approach your efforts in a fresh new way.
Try the following advice on your next attempt to quit smoking.
One aid to help you in quitting is to make a list of reasons why you should quit smoking, and also the reasons why you resist quitting. Writing something down can change your whole mental outlook. Quitting smoking can be difficult, as this can help facilitate the process.
When you smoke, you sometimes are just obsessed with the feeling of having something in your mouth. This can be replaced with a less dangerous habit such as chewing gum or eating candy. Anytime you feel like smoking, just have a piece of hard candy or chew a stick of gum.
Don’t Go Cold Turkey
Do not quit cold turkey. It can be tempting to throw out your cigarettes and say, “I quit!” But cold turkey is not the way you want to go. Studies show that over ninety percent of people who try to quit smoking with no medication or therapy end up relapsing. The reason for this is because nicotine is addictive and your brain craves it. Without it, nicotine withdrawal symptoms set in.
If you want to quit smoking, you need to identify factors that will motivate you to stop. Preventing lung cancer, tooth decay, gum disease and emphysema, or protecting your family are strong motivators. Showing respect for your body and for the gift of life is also a powerful motivating force. Whatever reason you choose, it needs to be enough to prevent you from lighting up again in the future.
Have a plan for effective stress management to counteract the effects of nicotine withdrawal. You could exercise once a day, find new hobbies or perhaps get massages. Identify things you can do if you have unexpected downtime. Read an engrossing book or call a friend for example.
When you are fighting the urge to smoke, go and do some exercise. Not only will your body benefit while you are keeping fit, the physical activity can help to keep the urges at bay. Anything that can be used as a distraction while you are working through the crave is a great tool to use.
If you want to quit smoking, don’t do it. Quitting smoking are two words that imply losing something, making it a grieving process. Instead, psychologically embrace tobacco freedom. Don’t think about how you would make anyone else happy, but what would make you happy if you were free from cigarettes. What could you do with that money and time?
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.
To stay true to your plan to quit smoking, make up motivational note cards to read whenever you get a craving. Keep these cards on your fridge, in your car, in your purse or wallet and even in a drawer at work. Any time a craving strikes, read and repeat the message on the card like a mantra to refocus your efforts.
When you are trying to stop smoking, concentrate on eating fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts. These items will boost your mood, plus energy levels, and help you in various ways, while you are trying to quit smoking. To begin with, it gives you a way of occupying your mouth and hands so you do not miss the motions involved in smoking so much. Focusing on healthy snack foods can also help you to avoid the weight gain that often comes with quitting. The nutrients and vitamins even help you feel better during withdrawal.
If you do not want to use nicotine replacement therapy to help you quit smoking, consider asking your doctor for a prescription. There are medications that can alter your brain chemistry and reduce your nicotine cravings. Taking one of these prescriptions may be just the aid you need to get you over the hump.
Put the cash you would have spent on smoking in a jar and watch it add up! When you’ve reached a good amount of cash, treat yourself to something nice. Seeing all of that money pile up might just help you to realize how much you were wasting on cigarettes. Being able to treat yourself to something special will become it’s own motivator too.
As you can see, quitting smoking is well within your grasp. You can learn to overcome your addiction with the knowledge you need to conquer your cravings. You will be a more confident person without a physiological addiction in your way, so consider these tips and set a quit-date today!
