All smokers understand that their habit is bad for them. Have you ever heard a fellow smoker remarking how healthy they feel when they smoke cigarettes? Non-smokers have no idea what quitting takes, but someone who previously smoked and quit can be a godsend. Keep reading to learn from their experiences and how you can do it successfully.
If you’re trying to quit smoking, take things one day at a time. Instead of focusing on quitting forever, just focus on quitting for today. Establishing a shorter timeline can make things seem more attainable. Remember, you can set yourself long term goals as your commitment to quitting gains ground.
Tell yourself you need to take a long walk before you could smoke, or even just finish a large glass of water before you smoke. If you do end up giving in anyway, delaying it may mean you will be smoking at least one less on that particular day.
Let your family and friends know if you want to stop smoking. When you let people know your plans, they can help you remain focused on quitting. This could potentially be the push you need in order to keep on track with quitting smoking.
You might want to look into therapy to help with nicotine replacement. Nicotine withdrawal can lead you feeling restless, irritable, frustrated or depressed. The cravings can be overwhelming. You can help with the cravings by using nicotine replacement therapy. Research has shown that people who make use of nicotine gum, lozenges, or patches can have twice the chances of quitting smoking successfully. Don’t use these products if you are still smoking, though.
Exercise can also a stress reliever. If you don’t exercise regularly, begin with short walks or an easy routine and build up from there. Speak to a physician before starting an exercise regimen.
By telling yourself you will check back in ten minutes to see if you still want a cigarette, you can find you can manage the craving for that short amount of time.If this does not happen right away, try to keep distracting yourself for 10 minute increments to put off smoking for as long as possible.
Keep your motivation for quitting on your mind all the time. Maybe you can wear a symbolic bracelet, or perhaps leave messages that motivate your on your refrigerator or office wall. Having visual cues reminding you of your goals will help you to fight temptation.
Your primary care physician can be a great resource if your are not able to quit when all other strategies fail. There are medications, including, a few anti-depressant medications.
Ask your family members to get on board with your decision to quit smoking. It is vital you tell them you need and value their support, not criticism or judgement. Let them know that you might be a bit grouchy at first, and that you may not have a clear mind. Quitting smoking is a real challenge, and the support of the people you love is essential during the process of quitting.
Take into consideration the effects on your family that could be caused by your bad smoking habit and use it as motivation to help you quit. The health statistics clearly indicate a huge number deaths that are directly attributed to smoking cigarettes. You don’t want to be another statistic.
For example, after a week without smoking, take yourself out to a movie. After one tobacco-free month, eat out at a nice restaurant that you don’t regularly dine at. Continue on like this to gradually increase the rewards to the point you forget about smoking any more.
In order to avoid experiencing cravings related to nicotine, discover healthier methods of dealing with this stress.You may find it helpful to work out during the most difficult part of the day, keeping a journal, or treating yourself to a spa visit whenever your cravings are at their peak. When you’ve got downtime, surround yourself with pleasant distractions, such as good books, so you don’t think of smoking.
Get a workout in. You will find that your lung capacity is quickly improving after you quit smoking, enabling you to exercise more easily. Regular exercise will also ensure that you stave off any potential weight gain. Endorphins from exercise can even help with nicotine withdrawal.
One strategy to help you stop smoking is to change to a different brand of cigarettes. Consider switching to a brand you don’t care for. Do not smoke a greater number of them than usual or modify the way in which you have chosen to purchase light cigarettes.This will help you on the way to gear yourself up for quitting smoking.
Find support through online forums and communities. You will find an abundance of sites specifically devoted to providing support to people who are kicking the habit. It might help you to compare quitting with others.
If you can do away with things that remind you of smoking, it will be easier to resist temptation. Clear your house of ashtrays, and take that lighter out of your purse or briefcase. To get rid of smoke odors in your home, clean your house and wash your clothes. This helps prevent you being reminded of smoking, triggering a craving.
To a nonsmoker, lighting a cigarette and puffing away at it makes absolutely no sense at all, especially considering that everyone is aware of the dangers of smoking. They also don’t understand why the habit is so terribly difficult to quit. It is possible to stop smoking, as evidenced by the tips and advice that you read earlier. Take what they have learned and implement their techniques in your life to help you quit.