It can be difficult to figure out exactly how to quit smoking when there is so much pressure and influence to keep at it. Don’t let outside influences keep you from doing what is best for you. This article can help!
If you’re trying to quit smoking, try chewing gum instead. Often times when you try to leave a bad habit behind, you must replace it with a more positive one. Chewing gum allows you to use your mouth and jaw in some of the same ways that smoking does. It is a healthy way to keep yourself busy while you’re working toward quitting.
If you’re doing well on your stop smoking journey, don’t forget to reward yourself. Treat yourself to a nice massage, a pedicure, or a special new outfit when you’ve cut back, and then something else when you’ve stopped entirely. You need to have rewards like this to look forward to, as they can help to keep you motivated.
Let the people around you know that you are quitting the nicotine habit. This can help you to create a support group to facilitate the process. This can be the little nudge you need to keep you on the straight and narrow.
Keep a cold glass or bottle of ice water nearby at all times. When you get a craving for a cigarette, take a sip of water–even if this means you hardly put the bottle down at first. This gives you something to do with your hands and mouth, and it can be a useful way to prevent snacking, too.
If you suddenly get the urge to smoke, try to delay your smoking. By telling yourself that you’ll see how you feel in 10 minutes, and then distracting your mind and body during that time, you will normally find that 10 minutes later, the craving will have passed. Otherwise, allow yourself another ten minute delay.
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.
If you are worried about gaining weight as you begin to quit, then you should try to incorporate a moderate exercise regimen into your daily routine to help curb any weight gain that you might experience. Exercise is the best way to prevent any weight gain from your quitting.
Avoid triggers you associate with smoking when you are trying to quit. For instance, if your triggers include smoking while driving, the end of a meal or driving, try to find alternatives to the cigarette to replace them. Try to find something to take your mind off of the subject.
As part of your attempt to stop smoking, you will want to discuss it with your physician. Your doctor could have quitting resources you might not have in your possession. Additionally, your doctor may prescribe medications to make quitting easier for you, so long as he or she feels that such treatments are appropriate for your situation.
In addition to quitting smoking, you should also cut back on foods and drinks that trigger nicotine cravings. For example, you will be more vulnerable to your nicotine addiction when you drink alcohol. If you regularly drink coffee when you smoke, then you should cut back on that too to reduce craving-inducing associations.
When you are trying to quit smoking, be sure that you are drinking plenty of water. Not only is water good for you, but it also fulfills the need to have something in your mouth. Also, large amounts of water help to clear out nicotine and other chemicals in your body caused by cigarettes.
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.
To help you stop smoking, remind yourself constantly about the immediate benefits. These include fresher breath, no more yellow and stained teeth, more energy and an increased ability to taste foods. In addition, you will be less likely to have shortness of breath and will enjoy physical exercise more. This will leave you healthier and happier.
After having learned more about the subject, you should now feel much more confident in your ability to kick your smoking habit for good. You can tell these tips to others so that they, too, can kick the smoking habit.
