You may be reading this article because of a recent doctor’s appointment, or because you have other concerns related to your health that are compelling you to quit smoking. Even if you do not feel motivated to quit, do not fear. You can quit smoking by equipping yourself with knowledge.
To cut back on smoking cravings, change the habits that once surrounded smoking. For example, if you always smoked on your breaks then see if you can get your breaks at a different time to make it harder to succumb to those cravings. Likewise, if you always had a cigarette with coffee then switch to a new caffeine fix like tea.
In order to quit smoking, find something else you can hold in your hand and put in your mouth. Many smokers find it hard to quit because they have an urge to have a cigarette in their hands and mouth. Rather than a cigarette, you can hold onto a straw.
Do some exercise to assist your goals of eliminating smoking from your life. Exercise just doesn’t go with smoking. Regular exercise can eliminate your stress, and it assists your body in eliminating the bad effects that smoking causes. If you’re new to exercising, start out slow by just walking once or twice a day. Eventually, you can build up to more rigorous exercise for around thirty minutes a day three or four times per week. As always, talk to your doctor prior to starting an exercise routine.
Motivation and positive thinking can be very helpful in helping you quit smoking. Imagine how your life will improve after you’ve quit smoking. You’ll smell better, will save thousands of dollars, and won’t have to huddle outside in the rain and snow for a smoke anymore! If the side effects of smoking are not enough to motivate you, think about the many different benefits.
Join a support group to help you in your quest to quit smoking. A support group can commiserate with you about the difficulties that quitting smoking entails, and share their coping mechanisms. The leader of the group may also be able to teach you behavior modification techniques, or other strategies that can prove helpful.
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.
Looking at a picture of smoker’s lungs may be all you need to quit smoking. When a person smokes, their lungs turn black after a while and they could end up with lung cancer. As harsh as it may seem, viewing the picture may set off a signal in your brain to quit.
Make sure you tell yourself that you are not going to smoke each and every day. As you get up in the morning, you should try telling yourself that you are not going to smoke a single cigarette. Reaffirming this goal in your mind each morning will keep you on track to successful smoking cessation.
The decision to quit smoking entails a massive lifestyle change, so be sure you are ready for the commitment before you plunge into it. You should take time to sit down and create a dedicated plan to quitting smoking. This plan should entail account for your unique situation and triggers as well.
If smoking is your reaction to stress, replace it with a positive one. Consider getting a massage when you are stressed or participating in an exercise class. Even doing something simple like taking a bath or enjoying a light snack is a better reaction to stress than smoking is. Doing these things will help you to quit, while still keeping your stress level in check.
Seek out support through online support communities and forums. You’ll find many different groups which are open to all or focus on a niche. It may be helpful to talk with other smokers about the different quitting techniques they have tried. Other ex-smokers understand your challenges and the emotional problems that sometimes get in the way of quitting smoking.
Don’t think of quitting smoking as giving up something. Think of it as gaining something. It is easier change your behavior by thinking of the rewards. A positive approach is more effective than a negative one. Keep thinking about all the positive effects this will have on your life, and remember that the pros are much greater than the cons. These benefits should improve your chances of quitting with effectiveness.
As you can see, it is possible to reclaim your health from smoking by quitting. This is a massive lifestyle change, but it can make an enormous difference to the overall quality of your life. The above tips should be of assistance to you when you begin your own journey to quit smoking.
