Numerous benefits come from stopping smoking. Remember the positive reasons you are quitting, and use the suggestions you are about to read to assist you in your efforts. Review these tips and put them into practice to give yourself the boost you need to make yourself a permanent non-smoker.
Write out the benefits of quitting smoking to add to your motivation and eliminate cigarettes from your daily routine. You will remember these reasons, and think about them every time you want to smoke. You’ll be able to use the list as motivation whenever you need it, helping to focus you on your goals.
In order to succeed with your goal of quitting smoking, you should do so in as easy of a method as you possibly can. Under no circumstances should you attempt to quit cold turkey. If you try quitting cold turkey, you may end up relapsing. Since nicotine is so addictive, it’s important to use a method that includes a prescription or nicotine patches or gum. You will have an easier time making it through early withdrawal, which will give you a better chance of quitting.
If you must smoke a cigarette, try to delay yourself first. Take a long walk, do the dishes or put away the laundry before permitting yourself to smoke. Sometimes, delaying smoking actually is enough to prevent you from taking that puff. If, even after the delay, you still have a cigarette, you will at least have taken up some time, meaning you will smoke less that day.
Try to delay your next cigarette. To help you postpone your cigarette as long as possible, consider taking a walk or enjoying a some water before smoking. Sometimes, these delaying tactics provide enough time for the craving to pass before you ever light up. If you do end up giving in anyway, at least that was a little longer that you were able to be smoke-free.
If you want to stop smoking, tell your loved ones about your plans. If you let those around you know of your intent to quit, they will be able to motivate you, and keep you away from any temptation. This support and responsibility can bolster your effort to quit smoking for good.
If you’re trying to quit smoking, let your friends and family know. Other people knowing about your goal will both hold you accountable and give you a support system. This might be the extra motivation you need in order to keep on track with quitting smoking.
Talk to a medical professional if you need assistance in your attempts to give up smoking. There are a growing number of medical aids, such as antidepressants, that can help you quit with much less discomfort. You can also find out about other resources, such as support groups, that will help make it easier to give up smoking.
While quitting smoking, rest as often as possible. For many, cigarette cravings increase during late nights. In addition, it’s easy to succumb to the temptation to smoke when it’s late at night and everyone else is already asleep. Get an optimal amount of sleep each night to help manage your cravings.
Perhaps nicotine replacement therapy would be helpful. Nicotine withdrawal can lead you feeling restless, irritable, frustrated or depressed. Additionally, the cravings can cause extreme discomfort during the day. Nicotine replacement therapies may help you overcome these cravings while reducing the amount of nicotine in your body. Research proves that nicotine replacement products such as gum, patches or lozenges can double the success rate for quitting. It’s important to avoid using these if you are still smoking.
Many report gaining weight during or after the time that they quit smoking, so you may want to start eating those fruits and vegetables now. You will minimize your weight gain when you do this. Remember that your body is going to crave food when you quit and the best thing to do is give it healthy food to keep you in a healthy state of mind.
Avoid triggers you associate with smoking when you are trying to quit. For instance, if your triggers include smoking while driving, the end of a meal or driving, try to find alternatives to the cigarette to replace them. Find something else that can take your mind off of things when this happens
Learn how nicotine replacement therapy can help. Withdrawals from nicotine can cause feelings of frustration, irritability, depression and restlessness. Cravings can be difficult to ignore. Nicotine-replacement therapy can help with these feelings. Studies show that individuals who use nicotine gums, patches or lozenges double their chances of quitting successfully. It is very dangerous to smoke while using these products; therefore, to protect yourself avoid smoking if you are using nicotine replacement therapies.
There are many healthy ways of handling stress. This can mean going to the gym at moments when you tend to experience cravings, or starting a hobby or even having a regular massage schedule. Give yourself enjoyable distractions to keep you away from smoking, such as playing with your pets or kids.
If you reach a milestone while quitting, congratulate or reward yourself for your accomplishments. For example, when you haven’t smoked for a week, go out to the movies. Once a months has past, go out for a special meal. After that, slowly build the reward until you’ve reached the point at which you no longer think about smoking.
Tell everyone you know the great news – you’re quitting! They have your back and will help you keep your goal in sight. The most effective way to quit is by having people around who support you. Doing so helps maximize your likelihood of success, and gets you closer to your goal.
One of the ways that can help you quit smoking is to change to a different brand of cigarettes. Switch to a lighter cigarette or a cigarette whose taste you don’t enjoy. Don’t smoke more of them or inhale them differently. This is one method that will ease you into quitting smoking.
The only way to quit smoking is to stop. In fact, this is the only possible way to start yourself on the road to a smoke-free lifestyle. Just do it, give up smoking cold turkey and never start up again. While this method may seem a bit difficult. It’s the most effective method, over time!
Many people enjoy the support of online communities and discussion boards. You can uncover a vast array of sites specifically devoted to providing support to people who are kicking the habit. You may find outside support beneficial to your efforts. Furthermore, people who are quitting alongside you will understand the unique emotional struggles that accompany this journey.
Thoroughly clean your home, car and wardrobe to get rid of the smell of smoke. Clean your carpets and furnishings, launder all your curtains or drapes, and wash down all the walls in your home. This will make your home smell great and make it so that entering your home doesn’t trigger the need to smoke.
It is in your best interest to stay away from things you like to do where you usually would have a cigarette, if you want to quit smoking. If you associate smoking with drinking a cup of coffee in the morning or attending happy hour when the workday is done, you will probably need to adjust your routine. Having your coffee in the car or avoiding the bar allows you to short circuit your cravings.
Look for opportunities to incorporate exercise into your daily routine. You will find that your lung capacity is quickly improving after you quit smoking, enabling you to exercise more easily. Keeping active will help you keep from gaining weight too. Even though endorphins produced from exercise does not replace nicotine cravings, it can reduce the urge.
Start exercising regularly. Exercising can make quitting smoking much more attractive when you notice the immediate improvement of lung capacity. It can also help to avoid putting on pounds thanks to a slower metabolic rate. Although you might still feel nicotine cravings, you won’t have as difficult a time with withdrawal symptoms if you exercise. Exercising causes endorphins to surge through your system, giving you a sense of happiness and well-being.
Do not allow yourself to give up if you did not succeed the first time you quit. Most people do fail on their first attempt but use it as a learning experience for your next time. 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.
You might have used smoking when you are feeling stressed. If you have used smoking to relieve stress, it’s time to find alternative methods of relaxation and stress relief. Meditation, music and yoga are some good ideas to try. They can reduce the severity of your cravings for a cigarette and help to reduce stress.
It can be helpful to get rid of reminders of your smoking life when you are trying to quit. Toss your lighters, cigarette case and ashtrays. Make sure you wash all of your clothes and clean your house thoroughly in order to take away the smoke smell. This can help reduce your cravings, in an effort to eliminate smoking from your regimen.
Come up with a list that states your main reasons for quitting. Every time your resolve wavers, repeat the reasons you’re quitting until you don’t crave tobacco. This can take your mind off your withdrawals, and keep it on other positive things that will help get you through this short, yet difficult period.
Exercise can replace smoking. You’ll get an endorphin boost that will keep you from worrying as much about cigarettes. Exercise can also help avoid possible weight gain caused by the changes nicotine withdrawal can make to your metabolism.
Once you’re ready to quit, write down the reasons why. When you find that you are struggling to find a good reason to continue with the quitting, pull out the list and use it for motivation to keep you going.
If you are trying to kick the smoking habit, counseling may be a good option to try. Certain people smoke because of emotional issues. If that is addressed, the need to smoke may go away. If this interests you, your family doctor should be able to point you in the right direction and offer a referral.
If you really want to smoke, do some deep breathing exercises. This calms you down, relieves stress and focuses you on your ultimate goal. It might also help bring more oxygen into your lungs, which may give you a refreshed feeling. Deep breathing strategies are rather simple, and you can do them at any time.
Try deep breathing techniques to calm your cravings for cigarettes. Use that time to focus on the reasons that you chose to quit. This exercise will also help you to relax the tension caused by cravings. Deep breathing can be done anywhere and at any time.
You are probably aware of the many ways that stopping smoking can be of great benefit to you. While knowing why you want to quit is a great start, knowing how is far more important, so remember the tips you’ve read here to help you succeed. Use these guidelines when you have a craving or when you do not feel motivated. You will be enjoying the benefits of being a non-smoker before you know it.
