People who smoke are aware that they need to stop. It is not a common occurrence to have a smoker remark on how much they are improving their health by smoking. Non-smokers have no idea what quitting takes, but ex-smokers do. Let others help you start your own process by reading what worked for them.
To become more successful with quitting smoking, try writing the cons and pros of quitting. You will remember these reasons, and think about them every time you want to smoke. When you think about your list, it can make your motivation stronger, and keep your focus on the benefits of staying smoke free.
When you are close to giving in to your cravings for a cigarette, think of a delay before you are allowed to indulge. Bargain with yourself, telling yourself that you can smoke after taking a walk, or after having a big glass of water. You may find that diverting your attention to something else will delay and ultimately overcome that desire to smoke. You may decide not to smoke it at all.
Find the easiest method to quit smoking. Cold turkey may not be the most effective approach for you. Only 5% of people who try this method are successful. Since nicotine is so addictive, it is best to wean yourself off. Any of these methods can make your experience with withdrawal easier, helping to ensure that you can quit for good.
Be open and let people know about your goal to quit smoking. Sharing your plans with those around you may mean that you can depend on them to boost your motivation or distract you when cravings strike. Their support will be a big boost in helping you on the road to stopping smoking once and for all.
When you have finally chosen to quit smoking, think about joining a support group. Talking to your peers will help you to find new techniques for fighting cravings, have emotional support and find new non-smoking friends. This can help you feel comfortable by associating with people who have gone through the same issues. To locate a support group near you, check with churches, recreational centers, or community colleges in your area.
When the temptation to smoke overwhelms you, using stalling tactics to make yourself wait. Tell yourself you will wait about 10 minutes and then assess how you feel. During that time, distract yourself and chances are, after the 10 minutes are up, the craving will be gone. If it doesn’t, keep trying this method.
When you feel the urge for a cigarette, set a certain amount of time that you will make yourself wait. Tell yourself you need to go for a walk first, or maybe that you need to drink a glass of water first. This break between the craving and its fulfillment may enable to not smoke that cigarette after all. If you still choose to smoke, you won’t be smoking as much because your time will be spent doing something different.
If you’re having trouble quitting smoking on your own, talk to your doctor. There are prescription medications, including certain antidepressants, that can make the process of quitting more tolerable. Your physician can also introduce you to a network of support, including hotlines and groups, that will make it more likely that you will quit.
When the temptation to smoke overwhelms you, using stalling tactics to make yourself wait. By telling yourself you will check back in ten minutes to see if you still want a cigarette, you will usually avoid the craving. Otherwise, allow yourself another ten minute delay.
To stave off the weight gain normally associated with stopping smoking, gear your diet away from sweets, and towards fruits and vegetables. This will boost your health by enjoying some healthy produce while stopping weight gain in it’s tracks. You must remind yourself that your body will want to eat when you are quitting, you should eat healthy.
If you want to kick your smoking habit, enlist the support of your friends and loved ones. Tell them that their support will be critical in helping you stick to your program. Ask them to not be judgmental. Let them know that you’ll be moody at the beginning, since your thinking won’t be as clear. Quitting is one of the most difficult things a smoker may have to go through in their life and gaining the support of your loved ones is imperative to your success.
Your loved ones will almost certainly support your desire to kick a bad habit and get moving with a healthier lifestyle. It’s critical, however, that they understand that you want positive support, not reproach. So, let people around you know that you’re going to quit smoking and that your mood is going to change because of this. It is not simple to stop smoking, you should always develop a support system.
Find healthy stress relief methods to help deal with your nicotine cravings and withdrawal. You could try going to the gym during a craving or starting a new hobby. Try to avoid idle time, and instead, find pleasant distractions. Reading, crafting or visiting friends all work well.
Eliminate the triggers you associate with smoking cigarettes. Change your behavior, so you aren’t tempted, for example, go to new restaurants that do not allow smoking. Look for a positive alternative to fill the time and distract your mind.
Try to plan out how you will cope with the stressful times. Many smokers have the habit of lighting up in response to stress. If you develop an alternate plan, however, you will be better able to avoid smoking. Keep a back-up plan handy in case plan A doesn’t work out.
Do not attempt this by yourself. Ask your family for support while you quit and accept their assistance. In addition, it’s an excellent idea to find a support group to join. Simple discussions with other individuals who go through the things that you are going through will help you in stopping this unwanted habit.
Stay clear of places or things that you normally associate with smoking. You need to change your routine if smoking is a regular part of your life. If you smoke while you drink your coffee or while have cocktails with friends, you may need to stop doing those things. You could bring the coffee along for the ride to work and choose a different after-work activity until you get the cravings under control.
If you reach a milestone while quitting, congratulate or reward yourself for your accomplishments. On your one week anniversary you could visit a movie, for example. Maybe after a month, you could go to a nice restaurant you have been wanting to go to. This will help to increase motivation for your reward in an effort to eliminate smoking from your thoughts.
If you need some extra motivation to quit smoking, keep your family and anyone else that would be affected if you were to get sick because this habit in your mind. One out of every five American deaths is related to smoking in some way, according to many statistics. Do your best not to become a statistic.
One helpful way to start quitting is to switch to a different brand of cigarettes. Switching to a poor brand can negatively alter your perception of smoking. Avoid smoking more of them than you normally would or inhaling them in different ways. You will be off to a great start in kicking your habit.
If you feel like a cigarette, exercise instead. After working out, the body releases endorphins. These make you feel better and are a great distraction from cigarettes. Exercise can also help avoid possible weight gain caused by the changes nicotine withdrawal can make to your metabolism.
Tell everyone you know about your desire to quit smoking. They will support you and keep reminding you that you must quit. The absolute best way to help you quit is to have a strong support system. Therefore, to increase your chance of success develop a support system.
Prior to giving up smoking, come up with a list of why you desire to quit, and what motivations you have for throwing out the cigarettes. When you begin to struggle, pull out your list, and it can give you the motivation you need to keep going.
Start by cutting back on your smoking. This is a great starting point on your quest to quit smoking. Upon waking, wait one hour before having your first daily smoke. You can smoke just one half a cigarette rather than a whole one to cut down on your smoking.
Consider keeping a journal of the smoking habits you have developed. When are you most likely to want to smoke? It will be easier to resist your cravings when you prepare yourself ahead of time to do so.
Think of strategies that provide frequent visual reminders to keep your mind motivated constantly. This might mean keeping an inspirational quote or image at work or in your wallet to remember why you’re quitting. Whatever method you choose, this type of visual reminder may help you ward off craving and temptation.
You need to eat a balanced diet. If you are giving up cigarettes, don’t try to diet at the same time. Instead, try to stick with a balanced diet. If you smoke, veggies and fruit can give a bad mouth taste if you smoke. By opting for these healthier foods, you may lose the taste for cigarettes as well.
If you’re going to quit smoking, keep in mind that week one will inevitably be the toughest. During the first two days after you stop smoking, your body will be shedding all the nicotine you have consumed. After the first two days, expect to experience mostly psychological cravings. Psychological cravings can be difficult to resist, but you won’t be suffering from physical withdrawal.
Swap your smoking habit for an exercise routine. As your body heals from the damage you have done when you smoked, you will notice the difference! As your body becomes stronger and more fit, you will be hesitant to undo all of that hard work by smoking a cigarette.
Consider keeping a journal of the smoking habits you have developed. When are you most likely to want to smoke? You are better prepared to handle your cravings when you know what causes them.
Emotions will run high when you quit smoking. Cravings are real things and it can be easy to give in to them. Keeping a journal documenting your cravings, including the time of your craving, how strong it was, what you were doing and how you were feeling, can help you become more aware of when and what is causing you to want to smoke.
Once you make the decision to stop smoking, make it a point to keep yourself motivated and not give up on this decision. Don’t be discouraged if you’re not successful on your first attempt to kick the smoking habit. Most people aren’t. If you get cravings and relapse, don’t give up and try get back on the path.
Keep some suckers with you during the early phases of quitting. When you get a craving for a cigarette, grab a sucker instead. The sucker’s stick will keep the hand busy that is normally holding a cigarette. The candy part will also keep your mouth busy. By keeping your mouth and hand occupied, the urge will pass.
Tell all your friends and colleagues that you plan to stop smoking. When others know, they can help hold you accountable. You do not want to disappoint them or fall short when it comes to their expectations. This will help you to stay on track to beating your cravings, no matter how hard things get.
Try to stick to non-smoking locations when you are first trying to quit. Catch a movie or accompany your friends to a museum. Gravitate towards non-smoking places, such as inside the coffee shop rather than the patio with other smokers. When you know you cannot smoke, it will be easier to counter your cravings.
A lot of the time someone that doesn’t smoke can’t understand why you continue smoking despite the risks. Neither can they fully understand the complexity of quitting. However, some people who have quit have shared their advice in this article. Use quitters’ experience and insight to free yourself of this unhealthy habit.
