Your family thinks it would be in your best interest to quit smoking. Your doctor says that if you don't, you could suffer serious health consequences. Even your insurance provider is willing to give you discounts if you quit. So, why have you not done it yet? Time to stop and use these tips to quit the habit without another thought.
Cravings seem to come most often when an individual is feeling stressed. To keep yourself from falling victim to this, find a healthy alternative for stress relief. This could translate to making appointments for activities, like the gym or spa, during the hours when your nicotine cravings are at their peak. Identify things you can do if you have unexpected downtime. Read an engrossing book or call a friend for example.
Exercising can help replace your smoking habit. When you exercise, your body releases a lot of endorphins, which in turn, make your mood go up. Also, when you exercise, your body is distracted from wanting a cigarette. Exercise can also help avoid possible weight gain caused by the changes nicotine withdrawal can make to your metabolism.
Hold onto something during the day to reduce your urge to smoke cigarettes. Toothpicks and straws are both popular replacements. Items like gum or mints may also be a good diversion. Make sure you do not use food as a substitute for cigarettes, because you might gain unwanted weight.
Consider using nicotine replacement therapy if you find yourself struggling to stop smoking. It will double the chance that you can successfully quit smoking for good when you also include behavioral changes. Some types of therapeutic nicotine replacement aides include nicotine lozenges, patches and gum. These products should only be used in place of cigarettes, not with them.
Few people successfully quit smoking the first time. For many, three attempts is the minimum necessary for success. The first technique to implement should be to quit cold turkey. Only five percent of smokers are able to stop cold turkey, but maybe you are one of them. The second quit date you set should be for cutting back gradually. If that fails, pull out all the stops. Consult your doctor on prescription treatment options or try joining a support group.
As you meet your short-term goals for smoking cessation, reward yourself! For instance, go to a movie after one week that you don't smoke. Once you reach a month without smoking, go to a special restaurant. After that, slowly build the reward until you've reached the point at which you no longer think about smoking.
Do not attempt this by yourself. Let your family and friends know that you have decided to quit, so that they can support you through the process. Consider joining a support group. Simply speaking with other people who have gone through this same battle will give you added incentive to lose the habit.
You need to look for ways to have high motivation at all times. You can do this by putting messages on the wall to remind yourself of the goals that you set. Whatever method you choose, this type of visual reminder may help you ward off craving and temptation.
Use the Internet to find online support groups and forums. Many websites are dedicated to helping you quit. It may be helpful or even cathartic to share quitting frustrations and successes with others who understand your struggle. Furthermore, those that are going through the same thing you are will better understand your struggles.
If you want to succeed when trying to stop smoking, you will have to believe you can. You need to believe that you will be successful at quitting. You have undoubtedly succeeded in other areas of your life that seemed impossible to overcome. Think about these things that you overcame in the past, and it will make you realize that you are capable of doing this as well.
Inform your friends and family members that you have decided to quit smoking. You will find that this constant stream of support can make great strides in encouraging you, and motivating your efforts. Ask them to remind you, when you're feeling tempted to smoke, that you are quitting for a healthier life, and to feel better.
Designate a piggy bank and use it to hold money that would otherwise be spent on cigarettes. Once a year has passed, use the money to buy something nice for yourself. Because smoking is such an expensive habit to support, your savings may be significant enough to pay for a vacation or getaway.
If you are gradually cutting out cigarettes to become smoke-free, then don't allow any smoking in your home. Quitting smoking is much easier if you have to be inconvenienced to have a cigarette. Outside, the weather might not be so great and there are no nice things like Netflix to keep you occupied.
When you are quitting smoking and finding it difficult, consider counselling. Sometimes, people smoke for emotional reasons. Dealing with such issues may also help your urge to smoke disappear. If this is a strategy that you think would work for you, make an appointment to speak with your primary care physician for a referral to a counselor who can help.
When you decide to quit smoking, it is vital to be determined to never give up. Most ex-smokers have tried to stop smoking several times without success before giving up the habit for good. If you do experience a relapse, determine why the setback occurred, and renew your commitment to quitting once more.
You should get a bag of suckers and carry it with you. Resist the urge to smoke a cigarette buy grabbing a sucker instead. The stick of this sweet treat will occupy your cigarette-flicking hand. Meanwhile, your mouth stays occupied with the candy. Keeping both your hands and your mouth occupied will help break the craving more quickly.
Do not get discouraged if you fail to quit the first time you try. Even the people who are most prepared to quit have a really difficult time succeeding at first. Identify where you went wrong so you can learn from that moment for next time. Next time you face a similar situation, you may be ready to succeed.
If you're attempting to quit smoking, you are halfway there. The advice you have just read will help provide you with the information you need to finally kick this habit for good. Try these techniques to help you curb the urge to smoke
No comments:
Post a Comment