It is easy to say that you want to stop smoking but it is definitely hard to accomplish. Most efforts to stop smoking fail. That is why you should do a bit of research and use tips like the ones in this article to help you in your quest to becoming a non-smoker.
Try to make it as easy as possible on yourself to quit smoking. Do not attempt quitting the cold turkey way. By doing this, you are almost certain to fail. Because nicotine is so addicting, a patch, medication, or therapy may be helpful. You’ll be better equipped to make it through withdrawal and quit smoking permanently.
If you can’t do away with a craving altogether, try to at least hold out against it for as long as possible. Tell yourself you need to take a long walk before you could smoke, or try to drink a glass of water prior to smoking. Often, you will find that just giving your mind some time and something to occupy itself with you will be able to get past the craving without having to smoke. Even if you do take that cigarette, you may still be reducing your total count for the day by one.
When you are trying to quit smoking, write a list of all of the reasons why you want to stop. Carry that list with you at all times. One of the best place to carry this list is where you used to carry your cigarettes. Whenever you catch yourself reaching for your pack of smokes, pull out the list, instead, and read why you want to break the habit.
Though aversion therapies have gotten a bad rap recently, they do sometimes work in helping you to stop smoking. They do not need to be extravagant methods and you don’t need to pay a therapist to employ aversion techniques. Try the simple things, such as permeating your favorite sweater with the smoke from that last cigarette you smoke. Then reach for it after not smoking for a day or two; you will be appalled at the offensive odor that you have been subjecting yourself and others to on a daily basis.
If you are looking for a quick pick me up like a cigarette gives you, try to have a glass of juice instead. This will help you cut down on the amount of cigarettes you have each day, and give you something that is healthy to replace smoking with.
Have alternate coping mechanisms in place to deal with the stress that you used handle by smoking before you attempt to quit. Avoid as many stressful situations as possible in the early stages of your attempt to quit. Soothing music, yoga and massage can help you deal with any stress you do encounter.
When you are trying to quit smoking, sometimes you have to change other habits which trigger your desire for a puff. Instead of that cup of coffee or that alcoholic drink, have a glass of juice or water. Many people still have an urge to have a smoke after finishing a meal. After a meal, take a walk. Not only will it help take your mind off having a smoke, it will also help keep off the weight that is commonly associated with giving up smoking.
Choose a date to quit and stick to it. Make a big deal out of this date. Write it down on your calendar, even consider having some sort of ceremony to mark the date for yourself. You need to instill this date in your head — the importance of it — so you can use it as a driver to stay on task for the long run.
Consult your doctor about quitting. Your doctor can prescribe smoking cessation aids such as nicotine gum or nicotine patches. In addition, your doctor may know some strategies for controlling cravings that you don’t know. He can help you create a plan to stop smoking as well as monitoring your health while you work on quitting.
When you decide that it’s time to quit, write a list of factors that motivate you to want to stop smoking. If you end up struggling, you can get your list out and use it to motivate yourself.
If an activity becomes difficult and makes you crave a cigarette, try to step away from it. There are some activities that might just naturally make you crave a cigarette. These might include drinking a cup of coffee or hanging out in a bar with friends. If you’re not strong enough to handles these activities without a cigarette, realize it and just walk away.
You already know that saying you want to quit smoking is easy but doing it is much harder. One of the best ways to ensure success is to do your homework and fortify your efforts by using helpful techniques like the ones offered in the above article. Apply these tips to your efforts and you may find success this time.
