Most smokers admit that they would like to quit and wish they had never started smoking in the first place. Most have them have also previously tried to quit to no avail. But you can try again and with the help of the tips and tricks from this article, you can become a proud non-smoker.
It is extremely important that you talk to a doctor prior to quitting smoking. This person can provide you some advice on your best methods of quitting. In addition, he or she can provide you some additional support on your journey. Both of these things greatly increase your chances of quitting for good.
Try incorporating deep breathing exercises in your life when you begin to feel the urge to smoke. This will help you calm down when you feel like you need to take a puff. Deep breathing will help you control yourself and stop the urge before you begin to think about giving in.
If you are finding that you aren’t enjoying food and drinks as much as you used to, consider quitting smoking. Smoking can cause damage to the taste buds in your mouth, meaning that you don’t recognize tastes in the same way. If you quit, your taste buds will soon recuperate, meaning you will be able to enjoy your favorite meals once again.
Remember that false starts are common when people try to quit smoking. Even if you’ve tried and failed to quit before, you should always keep trying. Ultimately, any reduction in your smoking habit is good for you, so as long as you are trying to quit you are improving your life and health.
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.
Once you get to the point that you should be done smoking altogether, throw away any extra tobacco products. This reduces the temptation to have “just one more cigarette.” You should also get rid of any cigarette paraphernalia that could trigger cravings, including everything from a favorite lighter to ashtrays to your old butts.
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.
Don’t give up if you slip up. Anytime someone tries to give something up that they have been doing for years, there will likely be a struggle. When that struggle exists, slip ups often happen. If you do slip up, get right back on track and try again. The worst thing you can do is turn a slip up into an excuse to keep smoking, so don’t do it.
During the first few weeks of your quitting attempt, stay away from activities that you associate with smoking. If you had morning coffee and a cigarette or went to happy hour and smoked, change your routine. You could have your coffee while you are driving into work or avoid the bar altogether so that you avoid the smoking triggers you are used to.
Rid your home of anything cigarette related. Once you decide to quit smoking, get rid of any evidence. Throw away ashtrays, lighters, matches etc. Wash your clothes and clean the house from top to bottom. The last thing you need is a scent of cigarettes that might lure you back in to the habit.
Make a N.O.P.E. (not one puff ever) resolution. It’s pretty easy to say that you’ll only smoke this one cigarette, but one relapse can compound and make the weeks or months you’ve spent not smoking worthless. Remember what you’ve already been through and just say no.
Smoking is sometimes the thing that individuals turn to in times of stress. If this is true, find another relaxation technique when stressed. See if meditation or yoga helps ameliorate the stressful feelings, because they are far healthier options than smoking.
To optimize your chances of success, don’t try to quit smoking during a stressful time in your life. This is when your nicotine addiction is strongest, and trying to quit only sets you up for failure. Wait until you feel empowered by other successes – regardless of how large or small – and use that success as a springboard for quitting.
You should seek out support in your neighborhood. While online support is great, face-to-face support can help you relearn how to socialize without tobacco. Tobacco cessation support groups are wonderful places to do this, as the people there will understand your unique emotional challenges when it comes to quitting smoking.
To avoid unnecessary discouragement, tell everyone in your life that you are quitting smoking. This will prepare those closest to you for the mood swings that often accompany nicotine withdrawal. This will also alert other smokers that you do not want or need the temptation of them offering you a cigarette.
Think about signing up for motivational emails or text messages when you want to quit smoking. Oftentimes, people fail to quit because they lack the motivation or encouragement to do so. These messages will give you that push you need when you feel as if you want to give up.
Fill the hole that quitting smoking leaves in your life with more exciting and productive endeavors. That could mean putting together a book group for your lunch breaks or going for a jog whenever you feel the urge to have a cigarette. If you focus your mind and energy on improving other areas of your life, you won’t even miss smoking.
You already know that most people want to stop smoking but have been unable to accomplish that goal. This shouldn’t deter you from trying again. It should motivate you to try harder and to use the tips and tech to help you through the rough spots along the way. Just take it one day at a time and success can be yours.
