It is essential that you find a way to quit smoking. The effects it has on your health are detrimental. When you add this to the strain on your relationships with non-smokers and the amount of money it takes from your wallet each month, it's easy to see why you need articles like this to show you ways you can use to finally quit.
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!
The first step in quitting cigarettes is to fully commit yourself to the endeavor before you figure out how you're going to go about doing it. Too many people try to quit on a whim and then fail when they are faced with serious obstacles. Remember the reasons that caused you to stop in order to stay motivated.
Set a day that you plan on quitting your smoking habit permanently. Write down this date on your calendar, and plan on this day. Your mind should be ready for a new change that will last for the remainder of your life. You could even have a small party on the morning of the day that you're quitting.
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.
Blow off some steam to keep yourself from blowing smoke. One of the most effective ways for you to work through nicotine cravings is to exercise. As an added bonus, you will feel the effects of your improving health more readily if you subsidize quitting smoking with a more rigorous exercise routine.
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.
If you stop smoking, you'll be improving not only your own health, but the health of those close to you. Secondhand smoke can be harmful to those in your household. So by choosing to quit smoking you not only lessen the http://quitsmoking.about.com/cs/afterquitting/a/after_quitting.htm risk of you getting a type of disease, or other kind of illness, but you also reduce the chance that a loved one will too. The benefits of stopping smoking will also be cigarette starter kit shared by the people with whom you live.
Remember that the hardest part of quitting is usually those first couple of days. Mentally prepare yourself to tough it out for just the first two days, and then just the first week, and you will probably be in good shape after that. Your body will be doing a good amount of detoxifying in those first few days and if you can make it through that stage, you can make it through anything.
Use visualization in order to assist you in quitting your smoking habit. When doing deep breathing exercises, shut your eyes, and imagine yourself being a non-smoker. Imagine yourself not giving in to temptation. Imagine winning a medal for not smoking. These types of programs, referred to as "quit smoking hypnosis," are extremely effective.
Receiving support from friends and family members can go a long way in helping you to quit smoking. It's especially important to remind them that getting over an addiction can cause mood swings and irritability. If people close to you are understanding of the situation, it will make relapsing that much easier to avoid.
If the fear of gaining weight is the only thing holding you back from quitting, you should know that gaining weight is not inevitable. Many former smokers never gain any weight when they quit. That said, gaining a few pounds is still far healthier than continuing to smoke. With a bit of exercise and mindful snacking, this fear should play no part in keeping you from quitting.
Drink lots of cranberry juice the first three days. Any consumption of acidic fruit juices will really take the edge off of the nicotine withdrawal as your internal chemistry slowly accepts the change. Just remember to quit after three days, as the physical nicotine withdrawal will end by then and the juices will just fatten you up after that.
Talk to loved ones when you want to stop smoking. Make sure all who are around you on a regular basis are aware that you are taking this very important step. Their support, care and encouragement can really make a big difference between quitting and falling back off of the wagon. A support group can also be beneficial towards your self-esteem and level of motivation.
If you feel your resistance waning and your desire for a cigarette growing, call your support system. It doesn't matter whether that person is a family member or a friend, reach out and tell them about how great your craving is to have a smoke. The time spent talking to them will help you let the cravings pass. It is also comforting to know that others have been through the same struggles that you are going through.
Use "NOPE," a.k.a not one puff ever, for your mantra. You can convince yourself that one cigarette won't hurt, but it may undo a lot of dedication and hard work. Keep your goals and motivation in mind so that you do not give in and smoke one cigarette.
Make sure you reduce your stress as much as possible when you are trying to quit smoking. Many people turn to smoking when they are under pressure because the nicotine helps them to relax. Listen to some relaxing music, get a massage, go for a walk. Do whatever helps you to relieve stress.
Keeping track of your progress can be a great motivator when you are trying to quit smoking. Download a free counter that keeps track of how many days you have gone without smoking, how much money you have saved, how many minutes of your life you have saved and any other vital statistics. Seeing how far you have come can help keep you motivated to stick with it for the long haul.
As you read through this article, you probably learned more and more about what things you can do in your every day life to quit smoking. So now you should feel more confident about quitting.
Drink lots of cranberry juice the first three days. Any consumption of acidic fruit juices will really take the edge off of the nicotine withdrawal as your internal chemistry slowly accepts the change. Just remember to quit after three days, as the physical nicotine withdrawal will end by then and the juices will just fatten you up after that.
As was previously said, quitting smoking is not an overnight process. There is not, unfortunately, an on/off switch when it comes to this habit. But it can achieved with some patience, perseverance, and a lot of faith. One day at a time and soon you will be proudly announcing to all that you are a non-smoker.
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