Quitting the smoking habit is not easy for anyone, even those who are very strong willed. The fact is that even those who want to quit still feel as if they get something out of smoking. If you are seriously committed to the objective of quitting smoking permanently, the following article has plenty of useful advice for you.
To become more successful with quitting smoking, try writing the cons and pros of quitting. When you go through the tactile experience and physical actions of writing, your psychological perspective is often shifted in the process. When you think about your list, it can make your motivation stronger, and keep your focus on the benefits of staying smoke free.
To raise the probability that you will succeed in your wish to quit smoking, try compiling a list on paper of the positive and negative consequences of quitting. When you write something down, it can work to adjust your frame of mind. This can help you stay motivated, and may make quitting easier.
You should consider hypnosis if you need help quitting smoking. Each year, thousands of people utilize the services of licensed hypnotic therapists for help with their smoking addiction. When you are under hypnosis, the hypnotist will fill your mind with positive thoughts about giving up smoking. It can make cigarettes seem less appetizing, leading you to never want to smoke again.
You can find a support group in your area for the support you need to be able to quit smoking. Support groups can help you learn how to cope with the physical and emotional challenges you may experience while quitting. You’ll find not only support, but advice and guidance which will lead you to great success. You can find support groups in places like recreational centers, churches, or community colleges.
Once you’ve decided to kick the smoking habit, tell your family and friends. When you let people know your plans, they can help you keep temptation away and stay motivated. With this support, you can optimize your chance to quit successfully.
When you are close to giving in to your cravings for a cigarette, think of a delay before you are allowed to indulge. 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. By using the delay technique you may smoke one less cigarette a day.
Proceed gently on a day-by-day basis as you work to quit smoking. Take your journey day by day, focusing on the moment instead of the future. A short timeline can help you stay on track instead of worrying about what is coming next. Long term goals will come when you’ve quit for a while and are better able to handle the daily grind.
Take your journey one day at a time. Breaking the habit is a process; it doesn’t happen overnight. Because of this, it’s counterproductive to think too far ahead. Focus on the present moment and tackle each day as it comes. All of those smoke-free days will soon add up to a smoke-free future.
Start exercising. Not only will it help you get into shape, it can help you stay busy and avoid cigarettes. Exercise can also act as a stress reliever. If you are new to exercise, start slowly by taking walks every other day. Speak to a doctor before starting an exercise routine.
Let your family and friends in on the secret that you want to quit smoking. Entrusting familiar people with this information can let them motivate you, along with helping you beat temptations. This may give you more of a push to keep trying to quit.
Reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke a little each day. This can begin the process of quitting the habit altogether. You should wait at least an hour before you have your first smoke of the day. As you try to kick the habit, it may be helpful to allow yourself to cut back by only smoking half of each cigarette.
You can join a gym or begin a regular exercise routine, to keep yourself busy. This will occupy the time you would have spent smoking. Exercising is a great stress reliever as well. Go for a long walk every day, or play a sport. Talk to your doctor before starting any exercise routine.
You need to look for ways to have high motivation at all times. For example, you could put messages on your walls or refrigerator. Regardless, find a visual way to resist temptation so you don’t crave a cigarette.
Your primary care physician can be a great resource if your are not able to quit smoking by yourself. He can advise you about prescription medications available to help you and may even recommend things such as antidepressants to help with emotional withdrawals. Your doctor can also point you toward other alternative therapies, as well as toward support groups and other sources of information.
Think about the effect our smoking has on your family. Remember that if you get seriously ill or die because of smoking, it will hurt your family. Thinking like this can help you stay motivated to quit. Statistics prove that one in five deaths in America are related to smoking. Do not become a number!
Ask your family members to get on board with your decision to stop smoking. It is important that you let them know you need their support and that you do not need them to be judgmental. Tell them that you’ll probably be irrational and in a depressed mood first. You’ll need the support of others during this process.
Make it your mantra to never have a puff of another cigarette. It’s pretty easy to say that you’ll only smoke this one cigarette, but one relapse can compound and make the weeks or months you’ve spent not smoking worthless. Remember that if you cave in once, it makes it that much easier to rationalize caving in again.
If you are not able to quit cold turkey, look into products made specifically for aiding the process. These include gum and patches. These are found over the counter at any pharmacy and give your body a small amount of nicotine, which can lessen withdrawal symptoms and get you through the worst times.
Is smoking more attractive to you in times of stress? If you do this, it will really help to find some good relaxation techniques to use when you are feeling stress start to build up. Meditation, yoga, running or other activities can all help you manage your stress in healthy ways.
Get the help of others. Inform your family and friends that you are attempting to quit and ask them to inspire you to drop this habit. Joining a support group is another great idea. These people can offer empathy, as well as helpful insights into the process.
You can replace your smoking habit with exercise. Exercise is an effective way to take your mind off of cravings and it also releases feel good chemicals that can lighten you mood when you work out. Exercise can also help avoid possible weight gain caused by the changes nicotine withdrawal can make to your metabolism.
While in the process of quitting smoking, allow yourself a reward as you reach certain milestones. If you can go for a full week without smoking a single cigarette, reward yourself with a new shirt or a movie ticket. Once you’ve passed that month long milestone, enjoy a fancy night out at your favorite restaurant. Eventually, once smoking is eliminated from your mind, get a big treat.
Make up a mantra of your top reasons for quitting. Each time you think you might cave, repeat over and over all the reasons why you want to quit. This can help you focus on your motivation to quit when cravings are strong.
Protect your family’s health by quitting smoking. Even if your family members choose not to smoke, they could get cancer or other serious illnesses from inhaling secondhand smoke. Once you quit, then your loved ones will no longer be exposed to the dangers secondhand smoke brings with it. Quitting smoking provides benefits to you and those you love.
Be sure that you follow a regular diet. Don’t try and do too much at once like diet while trying to quit smoking. Instead, simply eat a proper diet. If you smoke, veggies and fruit can give a bad mouth taste if you smoke. By consuming these things, you’ll give yourself a health boost and you will tend to smoke less as well.
If you get a craving, and you feel like you do not have enough will power to abstain, call somebody to support you. Let a family member or friend know that you are struggling. Not only does the phone act as a good diversion until your craving has ended, it is always good to know that you’re not alone when dealing with this type of issue.
When you decide you want to quit, it’s key to not give up. Most former smokers needed several tries before a quit attempt finally succeeded. If you do experience a relapse, determine why the setback occurred, and renew your commitment to quitting once more.
Replace your smoking habit with a fitness habit. Your body will expel toxins, start to rebuild itself and you’ll feel the results in your workouts in no time. The bonus of renewed strength and health is that you may not want to sabotage your efforts by letting the cigarette habit creep back in.
Make a plan to give yourself rewards when you are attempting to stop smoking. If you can stop purchasing cigarettes, you will see the savings add up. Set aside that money, and buy a reward for yourself every so often. Few things speak as loudly as financial freedom, which makes this method especially effective as a motivational tool.
Have a plan to reward yourself when you are trying to quit smoking. If you are no longer buying cigarettes, you will have a lot of extra spending money. Start collecting that money and using it to reward yourself when you meet goals. Being able to look forward to this material recompense for your efforts to stop smoking is a highly effective incentive to keeps striving for success.
When you quit smoking, focus primarily on the impact that this decision will have on yourself. You may have a lot of love for you spouse and your family, but quitting can only happen if you want to do it for yourself. Eliminating cigarettes from your life is a powerful gift that you give yourself and you will appreciate it for the rest of your life.
Changing your outlook to be more positive will help you to quit for good. If you take it day-by-day, you can get over it easier. You can use cognitive behavioral therapy or gradual changes to your daily life to get rid of your bond with tobacco.
To reinforce the importance of giving up smoking, educate yourself on the many negative effects smoking can have on your body. Look at photos of patients with advanced lung or oral cancers, or read stories written by those left behind when a loved one has passed away due to a smoking-related illness.
When you stop smoking, it does not have to cause stress or seem unattainable. You can quit smoking with determination and confidence, so begin your journey by applying the above tips to your everyday routine today. With a little determination, you may very well be amazed by how strong you are!
