Most smokers admit that they would like to quit and wish they had never started smoking in the first place. Most have them have also previously tried to quit to no avail. But you can try again and with the help of the tips and tricks from this article, you can become a proud quit smoking.
Before you begin the process of quitting your nicotine habit for good, take the time to make a specific plan of action. Merely thinking that you can muster up the willpower when needed is a poor way to approach this very addictive habit. Write down a list of things that you will do instead of reaching for that cigarette. This can include going for a walk, calling a friend, making a fresh fruit smoothie, or any number of diversions.
Remember that smoking cessation is really all about replacing one behavior with another. For most people, it is primarily the physical act of smoking that is the major draw. It signifies “me time” and a break from a hectic schedule or a boring job. Choose ahead of time exactly what behavior you will replace those smoking minutes with, and then do it!
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.
You must know why you want to quit smoking. Having shallow reasons, like it is bad for you are not good enough. To really get yourself motivated, you need a personal and powerful reason to quit. Maybe you are scared of lung cancer. Or maybe you would like to keep your family from second hand smoke. It might be because you want to both feel and look younger. Choose a strong reason that outweighs your urge to light up.
To keep yourself motivated to quit smoking, be clear about why you want to quit. While there are many good reasons to quit smoking, you want to focus on your most powerful, personal reasons. Every time you feel tempted, remind yourself how much you want to improve your health, save money or set a good example for your kids.
If you are worried about gaining weight as you begin to quit, then you should try to incorporate a moderate exercise regimen into your daily routine to help curb any weight gain that you might experience. Exercise is the best way to prevent any weight gain from your quitting.
Find another way to relax. Nicotine is a relaxant, so you need to find a substitute to lessen your stress. A massage or yoga is a really great way of relaxing, or you could try a warm bath, or listening to your favorite music. Whenever possible, try to stay away from anything stressful during the initial couple of weeks when you quit smoking.
When you decide to quit smoking cigarettes, throw away all of your ashtrays, lighters, empty packs, and other smoking paraphernalia. Keeping these items around can be triggering during your weaker moments, and removing them from your surroundings will make it easier for you to think of yourself as a non-smoker.
Having a fixed date for when you want to be done with smoking can give you something to focus on. Deadlines often make it easier to achieve a task, and quit smoking is no different. If you tell yourself that you must quit by a certain date, you will make a greater effort to do so.
One way to make it easier to quit smoking is by finding a substitute for cigarettes that you can hold in your mouth or hand. This way, you can gradually replace your cigarettes with something else. A drinking straw can work, or a piece of candy or a pretzel can serve as an effective substitute.
Don’t turn back to smoking during a family crisis. Sometimes the most difficult times in our lives, turn into the easiest times to take a bad habit back up. While you might be tempted to do so, try to stay focused on all the reasons that you quit. Talk to a friend or family member about what you’re going through or even seek counseling if you need to. Whatever you do, don’t reach for that cigarette.
If you discover that gradually quitting your smoking isn’t working for you, then try completely quitting altogether. Lots of smokers discover that the only method they can quit for good is immediately stopping their smoking. You must find the method that works best for you, whether that’s gradually quitting or immediately quitting.
When quitting smoking, it’s best not to immediately cut yourself off. While stopping cigarettes and having a clean break sounds great it theory, it’s very rarely effective. In fact, some studies have found that only 5% of people who use the cold turkey method of quit smoking manage to remain cigarette free.
Think about signing up for motivational emails or text messages when you want to quit smoking. Oftentimes, people fail to quit because they lack the motivation or encouragement to do so. These messages will give you that push you need when you feel as if you want to give up.
Stock your refrigerator with fruit juice before quitting. Nicotine releases sugar into your bloodstream, so when you quit you may have massive sugar cravings for a few days. Drinking juice is a healthy way to relieve these cravings. However, if you’re diabetic this solution can be dangerous for you, so you should talk to your doctor about safe ways for you to manage sugar cravings.
You already know that most people want to quit smoking but have been unable to accomplish that goal. This shouldn’t deter you from trying again. It should motivate you to try harder and to use the tips and tech to help you through the rough spots along the way. Just take it one day at a time and success can be yours.