What is it that you need to quit smoking? Everyone has something that will make the difference, the key is finding out what that thing is.
This article has a lot of great suggestions and tips to help you try and find one for yourself and your journey towards better health.
If you wish to quit smoking cold turkey, get rid of all of the things in your house that remind you of smoking. This means, no more ash trays or cigarette lighters. If you hold onto this stuff, you’ll only be reminded of smoking and it might make you want to have a cigarette.
If you’re trying to quit smoking, stopping “cold turkey” is a bad idea. Quitting without a means of support for nicotine withdrawal is an uphill battle. Because nicotine is addictive, it’s very easy to relapse without some form of support when quitting. It’s best to use smoking cessation medicine, or some type of therapy when you’re ready to quit.
One of the best methods to stop smoking is to use a nicotine replacement therapy to aid in your quitting. Nicotine withdrawal is very trying and can exacerbate feelings of stress, depression and anxiety. The constant cravings can overwhelm you. You can help alleviate these feelings by using nicotine-replacement therapy. Studies have shown that people who use nicotine replacement therapy double their chance of success. Don’t use these products if you are still smoking, though.
Avoid some of the places and behaviors that can lead to smoking cigarettes. For instance, if you tend to smoke while driving or while drinking, it is important to adjust the way you do such things, so that do not automatically prompt you to smoke. Find something else to distract you during those times.
When quitting smoking, you must learn to manage your stress. Once smoking is no longer an option, turn to healthier outlets such as massage therapy, long walks in your favorite park, listening to relaxing music, or meditation. Find something you can do that provides near-instant gratification so that you’ll be less tempted to turn to smoking when things get tough.
Help yourself stop smoking by only allowing yourself to smoke a certain amount of cigarettes a day. You can do this by deciding the day before how many you will have the next day. This will keep you from going over that set amount every day and cut back on smoking.
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 quitting 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.
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.
Make a vow to never take another puff again. At times, you may think that one little cigarette will be fine, but just a single puff can make all of your progress go to waste. One puff will lead to one cigarette, one pack, one carton; one puff is one puff too many!
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.
Don’t worry if you have a relapse. It’s not uncommon for a smoker to try multiple times to quit before they succeed. Always think about what made you relapse, and try to avoid that situation in the future. Decide on a new day to quit, prepare yourself, and stick with it.
Know that when you quit smoking you are improving your life, as opposed to making a noble sacrifice. You will find it easier to achieve positive results, if you view the choice in that light. Remember how very valuable it will be in your life, and how the pros of quitting far outweigh the cons. You will stay motivated and be more likely to succeed.
Start exercising! If you are active it can help to reduce symptoms of withdrawal and nicotine cravings. Rather than reaching for a cigarette, get off the couch and exercise, or go for a walk. This will really help to take off your mind of smoking, and is also a great way to improve your physical fitness.
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.
Regardless of your reasons for quitting, it’s not going to be easy. That being said, you can improve your odds if you have some good suggestions in your corner for beating the cravings and the psychological effects that you will go through.
This article and The Joint’s vape shop in Winnipeg has shown you some of those tricks and tips. Pick a few and give it a shot.