So you’ve decided it’s time to give up that nasty smoking habit. Good for you! Making the decision to quit smoking is one of the wisest you will make in your lifetime, and probably one of the hardest.
If you’re looking for some handy hints on where to go from here, read on.
As with other addictions, approach each day without a cigarette as a small victory. Just work on avoiding tobacco today, forever will take care of itself. A shorter timeline can help make things much easier on you both physically and mentally. Once you are committed to short term quitting, thinking about the long term will be easier.
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.
Have a friend or family member quit who smokes quit at the same time as you. Just like other things in life, such as losing weight, quitting is easier when someone else knows where you are coming from. The two of you can share tips or just vent to each other.
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.
Don’t allow yourself “just one puff”. The mind can sometimes play tricks on you, especially when you’re trying to give up a habit that you have had for years. Don’t allow yourself to give in to the idea that just one cigarette won’t hurt. It will hurt, and it might just keep you from being able to quit at all.
Quit 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.
Learn and use positive mantras. Tell yourself that you’re strong and powerful and that you can quit. Let yourself know that you believe in yourself and that you know you will be successful. When you make positive mantras such as these, a part of your life, success will follow. This is as true for quitting smoking as it is for every other aspect of your life.
One way to make it easier to quit smoking is by finding a substitute for cigarettes that you can hold in your mouth or hand. This way, you can gradually replace your cigarettes with something else. A drinking straw can work, or a piece of candy or a pretzel can serve as an effective substitute.
Throw or give away all of your cigarettes or other tobacco products. If you don’t have easy access to tobacco, you won’t be tempted to have one last cigarette or to return to smoking when you feel stressed. In addition, if you decide to smoke, you’ll have to put extra effort into getting tobacco and might change your mind by the time you can get it.
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.
