Do you want to learn how to quit smoking? Do you feel like smoking is a very unhealthy habit and you feel bad keeping this habit? Then you’re in the right place as this article is filled with tips that can help you become a better person and quit smoking.
If you have decided to stop smoking, mentally prepare yourself for what’s ahead. Try to focus on the fact that you can stop, and that this is not an impossible dream. Set an official “quit date” and even consider adding it to your calendar. By taking such a positive approach, your chances of quitting will increase.
Put aside the money you would have normally spent on cigarettes, and save it for something that you really want, like a new outfit, some nice furniture, or a weekend away. Not only will you be feeling healthier, but you’ll soon see how much money you can save now that you’re not smoking.
Starting an exercise regimen is a great way to support yourself when you’re trying to quit smoking. Under the advice of a doctor, ease yourself into the regimen, especially if you’ve been a heavy smoking for many years. The exercise will help you not only repair some of the damage smoking has done to your body, but is also a great stress reliever as well.
Join a support group to help you in your quest to quit smoking. A support group can commiserate with you about the difficulties that quitting smoking entails, and share their coping mechanisms. The leader of the group may also be able to teach you behavior modification techniques, or other strategies that can prove helpful.
If your goal is to finally stop smoking, you need to practice your skills at quitting. Many people who do not smoke anymore most likely were not successful the first time they tried. Every time you try to quit, make it a goal to go longer without a cigarette than the last time you tried. If you do succumb to smoking again, you must immediately set a new quit date. Keep quitting for extended periods of time, and you will get better at it. Eventually, you will quit that final time and never go back.
To stay motivated to quit cigarettes for good, use the money you save to reward yourself. Figure out how much money you will save by quitting in advance, and put the money you would spend on cigarettes into a special place. Every time you reach a minor goal, use that money to reward yourself with something nice.
You should commit fully in your effort to quit smoking. If you have failed before, you likely did not fully want to quit smoking. While quitting for the benefits is compelling enough, you should find better motivators to fuel your efforts. You will find yourself more successful in the long run.
Consider any therapy that can replace nicotine. Smoking itself is kind of disgusting and easy to give up, but the nicotine withdrawal usually proves the nail in the coffin of a quit attempt. Do whatever you can to deal with the withdrawal, from medicine prescriptions to alternatives like the patch, gum or even throat lozenges.
Be open about your intention to quit. Let your friends, family and coworkers know that you are going to do it and when your date is. Current smokers will likely be considerate enough to stop smoking around you at that time. You’ll also find out who is supportive and who is critical of your habit. Finding support and sources of encouragement might make a future quitting attempt successful, if this one is not the one.
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 quit smoking, use the method that works best for you. Some people have more success by quitting gradually, while others do better by quitting cold turkey. Try one method, and if it does not work for you, switch to the other method to see if it gives you better results.
The first week after you start quitting smoking is the most difficult. The first two days without smoking is when the body rids itself completely of all the nicotine you’ve been consuming. After that stage, the cravings you feel are mostly psychological. These symptoms aren’t easy to deal with, but are nowhere near as bad as the initial nicotine withdrawal.
Avoid dieting when trying to quit smoking. A lot of aspiring quitters try to diet while quitting so they can avoid the supposedly inevitable weight gain. However, in doing so, they’re depriving their bodies of too much at once and they wind up relapsing. This just means gaining weight, while they’re still smoking.
Ask your doctor if they recommend subsidizing your quitting efforts with medication. There has been much progress in the realm of smoking cessation. There are so many options available to you, from nicotine replacement to prescriptions, that you will be able to quit in no time. Consult with your doctor to determine the best course of action regarding treatments.
Using all of the advice from this article you should now have a better perspective on what smoking is all about and how it can harm you. The tips you acquired don’t have to be limited to you alone, you can share this knowledge with anyone else that can benefit from learning this knowledge as well.
