Even though the negative effects of nicotine dependence have been well documented, many people struggle to break their habit. If this applies to you, the following article offers you some great advice to help you break free from this addiction. Apply as many as necessary so that you can get on the way to stopping smoking.
When you decide to quit smoking once and for all, make a list filled with useful tips and quitting strategies. You can and should customize this list to your life and habits. Every single person will have their own individual triggers that need attention. Everyone utilizes different methods of doing things. It’s very important that you find something that works good for you. By creating a list, you can improve your overall chances for success.
Exercise can go a very effective stress reliever. If you are currently not in the best of shape, then start with an occasional walk. Speak to a doctor before starting an exercise regimen.
Make sure that you get an ample amount of rest when you are working to quit smoking. Not getting adequate sleep can sometimes lead to cravings. In addition, it’s easy to succumb to the temptation to smoke when it’s late at night and everyone else is already asleep. Getting plenty of sleep will not only limit the time you sit around thinking about cigarettes, it will also help your body to overcome nicotine withdrawal.
Make sure you get lots of rest if you attempt to stop smoking. For many individuals, staying up for extended hours can lead to increased cravings. You may get tempted to sneak a cigarette while no one else is with you. If you get a full nights sleep, you will be focused and able to stop any cravings.
If you are overwhelmed by the urge to smoke try using the delay tactic. Tell yourself how you’ll feel in about 10 minutes and distract yourself. You should see the craving pass within the 10 minutes. If you still do crave a cigarette, continuing using this tactic until it finally works.
If you find it too daunting to stop smoking cold-turkey, make use of nicotine gums or skin patches.
Talk to your doctor about quitting smoking. Your doctor can offer you advice, information and tools that you can’t get anywhere else. Your doctor will also be able to write you a prescription for medication to help you quit smoking, if he or she feels that it is necessary.
Nicotine Replacement
Set a series of intermediate goals as part of your program to stop smoking. As you achieve each goal, reward yourself. If you can go for a full week without smoking a single cigarette, reward yourself with a new shirt or a movie ticket. Once you’ve passed that month long milestone, enjoy a fancy night out at your favorite restaurant. This will help to increase motivation for your reward in an effort to eliminate smoking from your thoughts.
You might want to look into therapy to help with nicotine replacements. Nicotine withdrawal is very powerful and can lead to depression, irritable, frustrated or depressed. Cravings can be very powerful. You can try nicotine-replacement therapy. It is not recommended that you use a nicotine replacement product and smoke at the same time, to protect yourself avoid smoking if you are using nicotine replacement therapies.
To avoid cracking under the pressure of cravings and nicotine withdrawal, find healthy ways to deal with the resulting stress. You may find that some effective alternatives include exercising, keeping a journal, or treating yourself to a spa visit whenever your cravings are at their peak. If you have leisure time, distract yourself with hobbies you enjoy and people you love.
For instance, if your triggers include smoking while driving, the end of a meal or driving, or go to a different room to talk so that you do not think about lighting a cigarette. Try to find something to take your mind off of distraction that will serve as a substitute.
Practice becoming a good quitter until you can permanently quit smoking. Many people who do not smoke anymore most likely were not successful the first time they tried. Stop smoking, and have the mindset that you will stop for as long as possible. If you do start up again, immediately pick a new “quit” date. Keep quitting for extended periods of time, and you will get better at it. Each time you attempt to quit smoking, you will develop new tactics which will eventually enable you to quit completely.
The first step in quitting cigarettes is to fully commit yourself to the commitment to see it through. Most people fail because of a lack of willpower. You can provide yourself with motivation by remembering the reasons on why you wanted to stop smoking initially.
The only way to quit smoking is to stop. Stopping completely is the only way to really quit. Quit cold turkey–stop altogether and never pick up a cigarette again. Quitting outright might seem difficult at first. Time has shown this method to be very effective, overall.
Cut back on how much you quit. This is the first step to reaching your goal of quitting the habit altogether. Try waiting at least one hour or so before having your first cigarette of the day. You can smoke just one half a cigarette at a whole one to cut down on smoking.
Search for support through online communities and forums. There are numerous sites that are devoted to help people stop smoking. You can ask about techniques that have worked for others, and share your own experience. In addition, people who are attempting to quit with you will be able to understand the struggles that go along with this quest.
The first step to quit smoking is to completely stop. The most effective way to begin your quest is by stopping altogether. Just quit — and do not ever start again. This method can appear somewhat harsh.It has actually been shown that this method can be quite effective.
Stay away from trigger activities or symptoms in which you would normally smoke. If you always have a drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other, it’s time to shake up your routine a little. Having your coffee at work, or avoiding places where smokers congregate, will help you avoid activities that used to be associated with smoking.
Find support by joining online forms and message boards. There are numerous sites that are devoted to help people in smoking cessation. You may find help by comparing quitting techniques with others.
It is important that you stop smoking immediately. If you are truly ready, do not set a quit date many weeks from now; quit today or even tomorrow. If you quit now, your chances of contracting a serious or deadly illness, due to smoking, will be significantly reduced. Protecting your family from secondhand smoke can be an important reason to quit.
The first week after you start quitting smoking will certainly be the most difficult. The initial 48 hours is when the body tries to get rid of all the nicotine you’ve been consuming. Once that is gone, the hard part will be mental addiction. While they are still very real and can be intense, this will make resisting them considerably less traumatic.
Start working out as soon as you quit smoking. Exercising after quitting smoking will be easier, as your lung capacity immediately starts improving. Increased exercise will also ensure that you don’t gain any weight after quitting. Although you might still feel nicotine cravings, you won’t have as difficult a time with withdrawal symptoms if you exercise. Exercising causes endorphins to surge through your system, giving you a sense of happiness and well-being.
Exercising after quitting smoking will be easier, so start a regular exercise routine as soon as you stop smoking. Regular activity will also help ward off some of the probable weight under control. The endorphins exercise produces will also boost your nicotine cravings to a certain extent.
Get rid of anything in your life that reminds you of smoking. You can start by throwing out any lighters, matches or ashtrays. Next, put all your clothes through the washing machine and deep clean your whole house to eliminate all the smoke smells. This will prevent triggering your cravings for cigarettes that can come from the smell of these items.
You might have previously used smoking when you are feeling stressed. If you do this, you will have to replace that with some other form of relaxation.
You’ve probably noticed that your smoking habit gets worse in times of stress. If you do this, it will really help to find some good relaxation techniques to use when you are feeling stress start to build up. Rather than lighting-up, some people find immediate stress relief in learning yoga, or taking the time to meditate.
Ask your doctor for their advice on any prescriptions which could help you can use. There are quite a few options out there for those trying to quit. Ask a physician what they’d recommend to help you can quit.
Once you have decided to quit smoking, start making a written list of all your motivations for quitting. Check that list every time you have a craving and remember why you quit. It’s a highly effective motivational technique!
When you are trying to break the smoking habit, indulge your cravings by eating healthy choices like nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruit. Eating low calorie and healthy food help people quit smoking in many ways. For one thing, having your mouth and hands constantly doing something could replace the behavioral motions of smoking. Eating these foods regularly can also help slow down your weight that you stop smoking. The vitamin content and nutrients in these foods will also help with your withdrawal symptoms.
Pay close attention to your typical “smoking times”. This will help you to eliminate temptation during the course of the day. Being prepared for your cravings for tobacco will allow you to prepare in advance for them and resist the temptation to smoke.
Stop Smoking
You will want to tell your friends, family and coworkers you are planning to quit smoking. If the people you care about know you are trying to quit, they will also help hold you to it. You will do your best not to disappoint them or not meet their expectations. This type of motivation can be powerful against your urge to smoke when it is hardest to resist.
Get help from friends and family when you stop smoking.Tell everyone close to you that you want to stop smoking. Their added support could be the overriding factor that helps you achieve success. You may also think about joining a support group or trying cognitive behavioral therapy to aid your attempt to quit.
Do not quit for others: do it for yourself. Although you may want to quit for someone you love, you need to make the real commitment to quit for yourself. In fact, giving up cigarettes is one of the best presents you can ever give yourself, and the sense of pride you feel as a result will make the process worthwhile.
Once you make the choice to stop smoking, you need to try your best to stick with the plan. Most people that stop smoking for good tried many times until they were finally successful. If you do experience a relapse, think about what caused you to pick up a cigarette, and then keep going.
Keep a big bag of suckers around. If you are tempted to reach for a cigarette, opt for a lollipop. Your hand can have something to hold, similar to when you have a cigarette. The candy part will also keep your mouth busy. Using your hands to hold something else and putting a different object in your mouth makes it easier to overcome cigarette cravings.
Think about what challenges you may face once you first stop smoking. Many people who unsuccessfully stop smoking, do so within the first few months. It might be tempting to have a quick cigarette when you are tired or stressed. Make sure to understand those things that trigger your urges and temptations.
Hold onto something during the day to reduce your urge to smoke cigarettes. Many people find that holding a toothpick in their hands, or in their mouth, can alleviate the desire to smoke. Gum, mints and Tic-Tacs are also great options. But, do not use food as a replacement as this could cause weight gain.
The above advice should be of assistance to you as you begin to taper down on your tobacco usage. You deserve a life without an addiction to tobacco. Give yourself the gift of stopping smoking. You’ll also be amazed at the difference in your physical stamina and your psychological well-being.
Prescriptions like scopolamine and atropine aid in quitting smoking, but come with their own health risks and side effects. These ingredients can offer some relief from nicotine withdrawal. However, they may also impact the function of your central nervous system. Side effects can include blurred visions and dizziness, as well as constipation and trouble urinating. You do not want to stop smoking only to create a new problem.
About The Author
