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.
To fully prepare yourself with the struggles of quitting, know exactly what to expect before you start. Know how soon you can expect symptoms of nicotine withdrawal to kick in, and know all of the possible symptoms you could experience. This will also help you to anticipate your strongest cravings and most likely pitfalls.
Stop smoking with a buddy. Having someone else with whom to commiserate and celebrate will make your success even sweeter. Choose a friend, relative, or co-worker who also wants to quit, or pair up with someone on an online support forum. Having someone by your side will make the process much easier to tolerate and will help you stay accountable.
Throw away your cigarettes and lighters. This will make it impossible to smoke unless you leave the house. It serves to remind you how much of a hassle it is to smoke and leaves you without any. When you do this, keep yourself busy with other activities so you don't think about smoking.
Keep a stopwatch handy when you quit. A craving might mentally feel like it lasts for hours, but in fact the physical feeling passes in less than three minutes. Keep a timer handy and set it for five minutes when you first feel the craving. Once these minutes pass, you know you're in the clear.
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.
For help after you stop smoking, you should keep around items that can be used to replace a cigarette. Stock up on items such as toothpicks, lollipops, sunflower seeds, and coffee stirrers. All these items can help when dealing with cravings. Instead of a cigarette, replace it with something that is harmless.
As already mentioned, giving up cigarettes is very hard. Learning to stop smoking can be very confusing and daunting for many people. With the right information, the chance of successfully quitting is greatly increased. By following the steps outlined in this article, a person can learn the information they need to quit smoking.
