While most smokers realize that smoking is a risky and unhealthy activity, many of them are unable to quit successfully. A part of the reason is that the addiction is very difficult to break. However, there are effective strategies that have been successful for others. This article provides several of these strategies. Follow the tips provided, and hopefully you will be able to quit successfully.
Put aside the money you would have normally spent on cigarettes, and save it for something that you really want, like a new outfit, some nice furniture, or a weekend away. Not only will you be feeling healthier, but you’ll soon see how much money you can save now that you’re not smoking.
Remember that smoking cessation is really all about replacing one behavior with another. For most people, it is primarily the physical act of smoking that is the major draw. It signifies “me time” and a break from a hectic schedule or a boring job. Choose ahead of time exactly what behavior you will replace those smoking minutes with, and then do it!
Make a gym membership part of your quitting plan. Your health will improve and, more importantly, you will give yourself something instead of smoking to occupy your time. Exercising will make your stress disappear. You should start off slowly if you have not exercised in quite some time. Going for a short walk is a great example of a beginner exercise. Speak to your physician before beginning an exercise routine.
If you want to stay away from any weight gain that you will have that is involved with quitting smoking, try eating fruits and vegetables. This will prevent the likelihood of weight gain that is so common for people who’ve recently given up cigarettes. Understand that you’re going to have food cravings after you quit, and the best way to satiate those cravings is by creating a healthy frame of mind through healthy eating.
To improve your odds of quitting smoking for good, don’t combine your effort to quit with another goal, particularly weight loss. You already have enough stress and cravings to deal with just trying to quit smoking. If you try to wean yourself from something else at the same time, you are likely to fail at both.
Help yourself stop smoking by only allowing yourself to smoke a certain amount of cigarettes a day. You can do this by deciding the day before how many you will have the next day. This will keep you from going over that set amount every day and cut back on smoking.
Don’t allow yourself “just one puff”. The mind can sometimes play tricks on you, especially when you’re trying to give up a habit that you have had for years. Don’t allow yourself to give in to the idea that just one cigarette won’t hurt. It will hurt, and it might just keep you from being able to quit at all.
To fully prepare yourself with the struggles of quitting, know exactly what to expect before you start. Know how soon you can expect symptoms of nicotine withdrawal to kick in, and know all of the possible symptoms you could experience. This will also help you to anticipate your strongest cravings and most likely pitfalls.
If you are trying to quit smoking, it is important to have plenty of support. Inform family members and friends that this is what you are trying to do and enlist their support when you are having difficulties. Quitting smoking is difficult to do alone and family and friends can provide much needed emotional and social support.
Quit smoking with a buddy. Having someone else with whom to commiserate and celebrate will make your success even sweeter. Choose a friend, relative, or co-worker who also wants to quit, or pair up with someone on an online support forum. Having someone by your side will make the process much easier to tolerate and will help you stay accountable.
Avoid situations where you may be strongly tempted to smoke, especially places where alcohol is served. If you find yourself at a party, or bar, or similar place, it may be very tough to keep your determination not to smoke. If you drink alcohol, which lowers inhibitions, it will be much more difficult as well.
Don’t worry if you have a relapse. It’s not uncommon for a smoker to try multiple times to quit before they succeed. Always think about what made you relapse, and try to avoid that situation in the future. Decide on a new day to quit, prepare yourself, and stick with it.
The majority of people who smoke do so with the knowledge that the activity that they are engaging in is unhealthy and dangerous. A lot of them also have difficulty quitting due to the addictive nature of smoking. However, there are strategies that have helped others quit that can help you quit successfully too. Use the tips that have been provided in this article, and hopefully smoking will be a thing of the past.
