Stop smoking to live a healthier life and spend more time with the people you love. Follow the great advice in the following article for ideas on how to http://whyquit.com/whyquit/A_Benefits_Time_Table.html quit smoking.
In order to succeed with your goal of quitting smoking, it's important that you write down the benefits that are derived from quitting smoking. Some examples include living a longer life, feeling great, smelling better, saving money, etc. Lots of benefits are gained from eliminating smoking from your life. Writing them down can help to keep you motivated to succeed.
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.
Many people turn to food when they stop smoking, so it is important that you stock up on healthy snacks. The habit of eating these things can really help in controlling the weight gain that is associated with quitting. Feed your cravings with only the healthiest foods, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
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.
Cravings seem to come most often when an individual is feeling stressed. To keep yourself from falling victim to this, find a healthy alternative for stress relief. You might consider paying the gym a visit, or enrolling in a class that teaches you a new hobby. Even a massage or bubble bath can provide relief during times when stress is high. You could put your focus on a game or enjoyable book instead of smoking. Even a visit with a good friend can keep your mind off smoking.
To stay motivated to quit cigarettes for good, use the free money you save to reward yourself. Figure out how much money you will save by quitting in advance, and put the money you would spend on cigarettes into a special place. Every time you reach a minor goal, use that money to reward yourself with something nice.
Ideally, you should remove yourself from any situation that would otherwise incite you to start smoking. Try to alter your activities during the day to avoid situations that you associate with smoking. Having your coffee in the car or avoiding the bar allows you to short circuit your cravings.
Find a method to remind yourself of your motivation at all times. Put motivational post-it notes in obvious places, and consider wearing something that reminds you of your desire to quit. These reminders will give you the drive you need to fight temptations.
Try to remember that the mind set is everything. You need to always stay positive as you regard your smoking cessation. Think of all the help and aid you are bringing to your body and how much healthier you are going to be because you have taken this vital step in your life.
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.
If you decide to use a specific, dedicate program to help you stop smoking, remember that the more intense ones will have a much higher chance of success. This is not something that you can approach with a half-hearted effort. Counseling sessions or group therapy should be consistent, lasting at least 30 minutes and over a period of two weeks minimum.
If quitting is extremely difficult for you, speak with your doctor. There are many over the counter and prescription medications available that can help you on your journey toward no longer smoking. Your doctor can help to determine which of these medications is best for you, and provide monitoring as you begin to use it.
Remember when you begin quitting that the law of addiction is absolutely a part of the equation. This "law" basically emphasizes that giving a drug of choice to an addicted person within the detoxification period will immediately reinstate an addiction. This can be be a worse addiction than it was originally, making smoking within the first 72 hours not worth it!
Cut your caffeine intake in half. Somehow, nicotine cuts the effectiveness of caffeine in half, so after quitting, soda and coffee will be doubly effective. Drop your consumption of these so that you don't cause your anxiety to become even worse than it already is at this difficult time.
If you fail your first time quitting, try not to become discouraged. Even the hardest working quitters can fail. Try to turn your weaknesses into strengths and learn from your mistakes. Next time you face a similar situation, you may be ready to succeed.
Don't turn back to smoking during a family crisis. Sometimes the most difficult times in our lives, turn into the easiest times to take a bad habit back up. While you might be tempted to do so, try to stay focused on all the reasons that you quit. Talk to a friend or family member about what you're going through or even seek counseling if you need to. Whatever you do, don't reach for that cigarette.
Go ahead and kick the habit once and for all with the advice you gained today. You can do it and don't think otherwise because it takes that kind of mentality to quit.
It is hard to quit, but you will be successful if you try your very best. You should now be better prepared to stop smoking after reading this article. It may be difficult at first, but if you take it step by step, eventually you'll be smoke free. This is something you have to do if you want to live a happy and healthy life.
