The number of people who want to quit smoking grows every day. Smoking has many harmful effects, especially on your lungs. Use the information in this article to help you learn how to stop smoking forever.
Break down the benefits of quitting smoking by creating a list of specific pros and cons. Putting something down in writing can alter your entire outlook. This may up your motivation to stick to it this time, and it may be easier because you might be more focused to see it through.
Make your self a list of the reasons to and the reasons not to stop smoking. Writing something down can change your whole mental outlook. It can keep you focused on your goal, which should make it easier to quit.
Once you’ve decided to quit smoking, find a support group. These new ex-smokers can be a valuable source of support when faced with the various challenges that confront you, as they have or are dealing with them as well. People like this can give you important tips, support, and even guidance. You can check your local church, rec center, or even the community college to find these support groups.
In the event that the urge to smoke melts your resolve, at least attempt to put it off as long as possible. Take a brief walk before you give yourself permission to smoke, or finish a glass of water. Perhaps the extra few minutes spent occupying your mind with something else can prevent you from smoking. If you do end up smoking a cigarette, at least you will have smoked one less cigarette that day.
Many ex-smokers have found that hypnosis works when quitting smoking. Many people have found success with professional hypnotists. The hypnotist will supply you with positive reinforcement while you are in a deep trance. When you leave the hypnotist, your desire to quit smoking will stay with you.
In order to make quitting smoking more tolerable, just take one step at a time. Don’t think about quitting for the rest of your life — just think about today. Short term goals can make the process of quitting both mentally and physically easier. You can always increase your goals and time horizon when you are ready.
If you are creating a quit plan, be sure to write a list of all the ways you can give up the habit. You can and should customize this list to your life and habits. Every single person will have their own individual triggers that need attention. Everyone utilizes different methods of doing things. It is important to understand what works for you and your needs. Making a list for yourself of your own methods will help you reach your goal.
Sleep is a necessity if you are going to try to quit smoking. Some find that they crave cigarettes more when they stay up late. In addition, it’s easy to succumb to the temptation to smoke when it’s late at night and everyone else is already asleep. If you get at least eight hours of sleep every night, you will be focused and able to stop any cravings.
Rally the support of everyone that you love. Make it clear that you need support but that it won’t help if they are judgmental. Let them know that in the beginning of the process, you will probably not be in the best of moods and that your thought processes may be off. Quitting smoking is not easy, so you should enlist the support of your loved ones to help you through the process.
Your doctor may be able to help you quit smoking if you can’t do it by yourself. There are prescription medications, including certain antidepressants, that can make the process of quitting more tolerable. Your doctor may have other resources on hand as well, such as support groups and toll-free hotlines where you can discuss your struggle.
If you cannot quit cold turkey, replace your cigarettes with nicotine patches or gums. You can buy these products over the counter. They allow you to get your daily dose of nicotine and work toward getting rid of this habit without suffering from withdrawal symptoms.
If you decide to stop smoking and do not want to go cold turkey, consider nicotine replacement therapy. Such easily accessible tools can provide you with the nicotine your body craves as you work to kick the habit free from the difficult symptoms of withdrawal.
Smoking has very strong associations with some activities, and avoiding these situations can help you stop smoking. For example, if you liked to smoke in the car, or when you were reading a book, then you need to change your behavior when doing those things, so as to not automatically think about smoking. Get involved with something else during those times, to keep your mind off of your desire to smoke.
A benefit of quitting smoking is so you can improve the health of all those near you. Smoking is harmful for you and anyone around you that inhales secondhand smoke, and people can even get cancer from it. Your family members will spend less time exposed to the dangers of secondhand smoke when you stop smoking. Quitting smoking now will make you and everyone around you healthier.
Cut down on smoking. This is the first step to reaching your goal of a smoke-free life. You should at least wait an hour or two before you have a smoke after you wake up. In addition, you can smoke less by only smoking a half cigarette each time you smoke.
Cut back before you quit. That way, you can get off to a good start in your efforts to quit smoking. Do not smoke in the first hour when you wake up if you are planning on having a cigarette. Try smoking just half a cigarette when you do smoke to cut down a little at a time.
You need to look for ways to have high motivation at all times. Many people find that placing motivational messages throughout their home and office help on their journey to quitting smoking. No matter what you chose, having a visual reminder will help you when a craving hits.
To avoid the reminder of smoking’s odor, clean your house thoroughly, when you decide to quit. Wash your walls, drapes and curtains and shampoo the carpet and upholstery. The difference will be evident not only to you but to all your visitors, and you won’t have to smell cigarettes while you are trying to quit.
The best way to stop smoking is to quit today. Do not procrastinate and identify a start date a few months down the road; today is the perfect time to begin. This will stop you from changing your mind later, and give you a head start on being a quitter. Your family is also affected by your smoking, as secondhand smoke has shown to be deadly.
Consider rewarding yourself for important milestones and plan those rewards in advance. Write a list of gifts to give yourself for reaching every milestone. Make sure the list is in a place that you can easily refer to throughout the day. This motivation will be helpful when you’re feeling temptation.
Get a workout in. Once you have quit smoking, your lung capacity will start to improve and you will begin to find exercising easier. Regular activity will also help ward off some of the probable weight gain. Furthermore, exercise causes your body to produce endorphins, which can give you a natural high. Although the high won’t be as good as a nicotine high, it will help you to cope with cigarette withdrawal.
Find support groups, either locally or in the online community. There are many websites that help people quit smoking. It might be helpful and informative for you to compare different quitting methods with other people. Not to mention, there are those whom have already completed this troublesome journey and simply wish to offer a helping hand from experience and proven results.
Don’t become discouraged if you fail. Even the best efforts and the best people fail sometimes. Identify the factors leading up to your relapse, and learn from it. You may experience a bigger triumph down the road.
Psychologically train yourself to handle any type of stressful situation that might come about. Most smokers use cigarettes to calm themselves during stressful moments. If you make a plan and have strategies in place, you can better avoid smoking. Have a backup plan in case the first plan doesn’t work.
There are also medications and treatments that you can do in order to help you quit smoking, so you may want to speak with your doctor about what your options are. Overall, there have been a ton of new and innovative ways to help people quit smoking. There are a lot of options available to you when you decide to quit smoking, from gum to patches to doctor-prescribed medication to help with the withdrawals. Talk to your physician about what they think you should use.
Stay away from trigger activities or symptoms in which you would normally smoke. If you always have a drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other, it’s time to shake up your routine a little. Drinking coffee on your way to work or staying away from bars can help you short circuit the cravings.
Counseling can help you in your mission to quit smoking. There may be emotional reasons related to your smoking. When you deal with this issue, it’s easier to stop smoking. Ask your doctor for help getting started with this program if you think it might work for you.
If you feel like a cigarette, exercise instead. Not only does a work out release endorphins, which improves your mood, but it is also an excellent way to take your mind off your cravings. 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. If you find yourself struggling to stay on track, the list will be a constant reminder and give you the motivation you need to keep pressing on.
Create a mantra of the most important reasons you have to stop smoking. Anytime you feel a strong craving coming on, repeat this mantra to yourself. This is valuable way to use your mental strength to overpower the withdrawal yearnings you might encounter and refocus it on things that are important to you.
Use a nicotine replacement product to help you reduce your cravings. Applying a nicotine patch or chewing special gums can prevent some of the symptoms associated with nicotine withdrawal while still allowing you to chisel away at your habit of smoking cigarettes. Once your journey is a successful one, you can gradually wean yourself from the replacement therapy that you have chosen to use.
You need the help of family and friends when you have decided to quit smoking. Inform your loved ones that you are attempting to quit smoking. Their added support could be the key to your success. It can also help to have a support group when trying to quit.
Have a plan to reward yourself when you are trying to quit smoking. One of the great advantages to quitting is your ability to save money. Stockpile the money you save and use it to give yourself periodic treats. Use this idea to keep you motivated in your cessation efforts.
An oral fixation can play a big part in smoking addictions. If this applies to you, try to find other innovative ways to satisfy this habit. Many people who stop smoking like to carry hard candy or gum with them for this reason. While there are those that satisfy their cravings through electronic cigarettes.
The decision to quit smoking can present unique emotional obstacles. You will be hit by cravings on a regular basis, and these are not always easy to fight back against. Keeping a journal helps document your daily situation and cravings, and helps you figure out how to beat them.
Now that you have read this article, hopefully you will have gained some insight into what you need to do to kick your smoking habit for good. In order to remain strong in the face of temptation, keep your motivation in mind at all times. You want to live a long and fulfilled life, so apply the above advice today to quit smoking.
