You know you want to. But do you REALLY want to? Smoking can be a tricky thing to really break up with. You know it’s bad for you and you know that you should, but until you make that decision that it’s really time, you won’t be successful. So make up your mind, read this article and make it happen.
You may wish to join a support group when you decide to stop smoking. 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. These people can become your friends, and offer you a wealth of advice that might help you to stay on track. Support groups can be found in many places, even on the Internet, so take some time to research what’s available to you.
You will find it hard to do some of your normal routines while you are quitting smoking. For example, going to a bar with friends who smoke. When your friend goes outside for a cigarette, resist the urge to go with them to keep them company. Everything that you once did as a smoker, you will be able to do again.
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!
To keep your hands and mouth busy while trying to quit smoking, keep crunchy vegetables like carrots or celery on hand. These low-calorie snacks will not only keep your hands busy, but they will steady your blood sugar and keep you from reaching for higher-calorie foods that could lead to weight gain.
When you smoke, you sometimes are just obsessed with the feeling of having something in your mouth. This can be replaced with a less dangerous habit such as chewing gum or eating candy. Anytime you feel like smoking, just have a piece of hard candy or chew a stick of gum.
Make sure you do not feel as if you have to give up any aspect of your life because you are quitting smoking. Anything that you do you can still do as an ex-smoker. Who knows, you may even be able to do your favorite things a little bit better.
It does not matter how long it has been since you gave up smoking, you can never have “just one”. You are a nicotine addict. While just one does not mean you will be smoking a packet a day again by morning, it will mean that you have “just one more” a lot sooner than you would like.
To keep yourself motivated to quit smoking, be clear about why you want to quit. While there are many good reasons to quit smoking, you want to focus on your most powerful, personal reasons. Every time you feel tempted, remind yourself how much you want to improve your health, save money or set a good example for your kids.
Starting an exercise regimen is a great way to support yourself when you’re trying to quit smoking. Under the advice of a doctor, ease yourself into the regimen, especially if you’ve been a heavy smoking for many years. The exercise will help you not only repair some of the damage smoking has done to your body, but is also a great stress reliever as well.
Make sure you treat yourself as if you are a smoking addict. Never let yourself take a single puff. This one puff may seem harmless, but it can actually reignite your inner need for cigarettes. No matter how long you have remained smoke free, you should keep yourself from ever taking “just” a casual puff.
Learn how to manage stress. One of the top reasons people smoke is because the nicotine can help them relax. Once you are able to quit, you are going to need to find another way to cope with your stress. You can get massages regularly, listen to relaxing music or learn tai chi or yoga. If you can, avoid situations that cause you a lot of stress while you are quitting and soon after.
When you are fighting the urge to smoke, go and do some exercise. Not only will your body benefit while you are keeping fit, the physical activity can help to keep the urges at bay. Anything that can be used as a distraction while you are working through the crave is a great tool to use.
Now that you’ve decided it’s really time to get rid of this habit, you can use the information you just read here to make your attempts successful. You may not make it the first time, but if you keep on trying, one of these tips will be just what you needed.
