Even people with strong willpower sometimes have a difficult time quitting the smoking habit. The physical and emotional attachment to cigarettes is sometimes overwhelming. These suggestions will help you determine the best way to break the bonds of cigarette addiction.
Remember that smoking cessation is really all about replacing one behavior with another. For most people, it is primarily the physical act of smoking that is the major draw. It signifies “me time” and a break from a hectic schedule or a boring job. Choose ahead of time exactly what behavior you will replace those smoking minutes with, and then do it!
When you are first trying to quit smoking, try to avoid places that you associate with smoking. This might mean staying away from your favorite bar or the smoking spot at work. Staying away from these places also means staying away from temptation, which can be a very important thing to do when you are first trying to quit.
If you want to stop smoking, visit your doctor. Your doctor may be able to refer you to a support group or have knowledge of specialists in your area. Your doctor is also the only one that can write you a prescription for a nicotine replacement medication.
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.
Once you commit to quitting smoking, give your home, car and other personal spaces and effects a thorough cleaning. Smelling smoke will only make you want to smoke. Likewise, your sense of smell will improve the longer you go without smoking, and cleaning will give you a chance to appreciate just how bad the smoke made your items smell.
Learn how to manage stress. One of the top reasons people smoke is because the nicotine can help them relax. Once you are able to quit, you are going to need to find another way to cope with your stress. You can get massages regularly, listen to relaxing music or learn tai chi or yoga. If you can, avoid situations that cause you a lot of stress while you are quitting and soon after.
To quit smoking for good, quit as many times as it takes. Most people do not successfully quit smoking the first time they try. Take quitting one day at a time, and try to not smoke until you just can’t take it any more. If you do experience a setback, set a quit date and get back on track. Just keep at it and try to extend the amount of time you quit, while you learn what triggered you into smoking again each time. At some point, you will be so skilled at quitting that it will become permanent.
Receiving support from friends and family members can go a long way in helping you to quit smoking. It’s especially important to remind them that getting over an addiction can cause mood swings and irritability. If people close to you are understanding of the situation, it will make relapsing that much easier to avoid.
Take the time to really sit down and think about how quitting smoking will improve your life. This is especially effective if you already have serious health conditions that smoking can exacerbate, like asthma or diabetes. If your family has a predisposition for cancer, then it can also be very powerful for you to acknowledge that quitting now could actually save your life.
Quitting smoking may be challenging, but hopefully, this article has demonstrated how very possible it is indeed. You can use your confidence and determination to stop smoking, so start your quest off with these tips today. You will be surprised to learn all you are capable of doing when determination sets in.
