So you have finally decided it’s time to drop stop smoking? Congratulations. Quitting smoking is one of the best choices you can make for your health. Smoking affects you negatively in a variety of ways. The following article will give you some tips to help you make your decision to quit a lasting one.
Write down the reasons why you want to quit smoking. Post the list someplace where you’ll see it every day, to help keep you motivated. Include not only the reasons that directly benefit you, but also the reasons that quitting will benefit your friends and family. Being able to read your list every day will remind you of why you stopped smoking in the first place.
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.
If you have been unable to quit smoking with just willpower, add some nicotine substitutes and see if that works. These substitutes are OTC medications that replace some of the nicotine your body is used to getting from smoking. This can ease withdrawal symptoms, and increase your chances of quitting for good.
Make sure you treat yourself as if you are a smoking addict. Never let yourself take a single puff. This one puff may seem harmless, but it can actually reignite your inner need for cigarettes. No matter how long you have remained smoke free, you should keep yourself from ever taking “just” a casual puff.
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.
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.
Remember that false starts are common when people try to quit smoking. Even if you’ve tried and failed to quit before, you should always keep trying. Ultimately, any reduction in your smoking habit is good for you, so as long as you are trying to quit you are improving your life and health.
Strategically plan rewards for yourself in advance if you meet certain goals. Come up with a worthwhile reward for every set amount of days, weeks or months you go without smoking. Put the list in your phone or on your fridge so that you are reminded of the rewards every day. It might provide inspiration and motivation during difficult times.
To help you quit smoking, some people say that eating low calorie snack foods is very effective. Try purchasing mini carrots, cut up broccoli, cauliflower, dried fruit, low calorie cereal, or sugar-free candy. Consuming any of these items when you have the desire to smoke can help control cravings and keep your mouth busy.
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.
Avoid emptying your ashtrays. If you see how many cigarettes you have smoked laying the the ashtray, you will be less likely to smoke any more. This will also leave the unsightly butts and their smell behind. This can be helpful because it will remind of you how bad the smell of smoke is.
Many smokers have certain triggers that create the sudden need for a cigarette, such as feeling stressed, ending a meal, or being at a certain location. When you are trying to quit, avoid these triggers if you can. If you can’t avoid them, come up with some way to distract yourself from the need to smoke.
If you’ve quit before, don’t assume that whatever you tried didn’t work. If using the patch let you go three weeks without smoking, think instead about what caused you to light up again in week four. Plan your next attempt with the knowledge and optimism that the patch can get you through three weeks, and then have a secondary plan to get through the fourth week.
For most of us, quitting smoking is not easy. The addiction to nicotine is a powerful one and overcoming it takes much determination. Do not be discouraged if you are not successful the first time. The most important thing is that you continue on your path to quitting. Good luck!
