Don’t Be A Tobacco Prisoner! Stop Smoking Now!

Smoking could really impact the quality of your life. Smoking is a smelly habit that stains your teeth and clothing. An even greater concern is that there are health risks associated with it. It is possible to undo all the damage caused by smoking by simply quitting. Read on to learn how to begin quitting smoking.

When you decide to stop smoking, find a support group to help. It can be helpful to you to speak to people who know what you’re going through, who also can identify with the physical and emotional strain you may be experiencing. They will offer invaluable support and guidance, as well as insider tips that can help you quit. Support groups can be found at recreational centers, community colleges, or churches locally.

Try exercising or joining a gym to keep you from smoking, and to better your health. Exercising will make your stress disappear. If you don’t exercise, start off slowly with a few walks. Before you begin any fitness program, you should first consult your doctor.

When you feel an overwhelming urge to smoke, use the delay tactic. Try to distract your mind and your body for 10 minutes by going for a walk or calling a friend; in this time your urge will probably have passed. Otherwise, allow yourself another ten minute delay.

Reach out to your friends and family to get support, when you decide to stop smoking. Tell them that their support will be critical in helping you stick to your program. Ask them to not be judgmental. So, let people around you know that you’re going to quit smoking and that your mood is going to change because of this. Try to maximize your level of support throughout the process of quitting smoking.

You don’t have to go through this alone. Do not alienate friends and family, as you can use these people for support. Another excellent idea is to enlist the help of a support group. Simply talking with people who are going through the same thing will help spur you on to kick the habit.

Reward Yourself

When you first quit, plan out various time-based milestones for which you will reward yourself. An example intermediate goal may be to go a week without having a smoke. When you do so, go out to see a new movie or play you’ve been meaning to watch. Another goal could be to go a whole month smoke-free. When you attain that goal, give yourself a nice dinner out at a special restaurant. After that, continue to reward yourself once in awhile until smoking is no longer on your mind at all.

To avoid nicotine cravings, try to deal with your stress in other ways. You could try going to the gym during a craving or starting a new hobby. Give yourself enjoyable distractions to keep you away from smoking, such as playing with your pets or kids.

If you can think positively and be motivated, then those will work in your favor to help you quit smoking. Remain focused on the positive ways your life will change once you rid yourself of cigarettes. Think about how your breath will smell better, or how much cleaner your teeth will be, or how much cleaner and fresher your home will be. While many people respond to negative reinforcement, a positive outlook can also be very powerful.

The only way to stop smoking is to stop. Stopping will start you on your new path. Just stop and do not start doing it again. This method of quitting cigarettes is not the easiest one. In the long-term, the health and physical advantages outweigh the initial discomfort.

Give your home a fresh start, too, by cleaning away the smoky smell. Clean your house and wash your furniture, so it doesn’t smell like smoke. This will help your home to feel clean and fresh, and keep you from smelling smoke each time you walk through the door.

Create ideas for how to manage moments that are stressful. Many smokers get used to smoking when stressed. If you make a plan on the things you will do, you will most likely succeed in quitting smoking. Have many ideas, just in case your first idea does not help.

Substitue a healthy habit like exercise for your smoking. Mood boosting endorphins are released with exercise and you will be distracted from your cravings by physical activity. Exercising more will also help prevent you from gaining too much weight after you quit smoking.

Construct a mantra regarding the reasons you desire to quit smoking. Whenever you feel your willpower falter, repeat your reasons for quitting to yourself until your craving has passed. This is a great way to focus your attention away from withdrawal and towards positivity.

Eat well. You shouldn’t try to diet during the same time that you’re trying to quit smoking. You want to keep your body at normal levels somewhere, so practice a normal balanced diet as you normally would. When you eat healthy fruits or vegetables and try to smoke, it will sometimes leave a strange taste in your mouth. You need these items as part of a healthy diet; stop smoking so you can get your taste buds back.

Although the thought of quitting smoking is often daunting, the benefits to your health are well worth the effort. Hopefully this article has given you the instruction and inspiration you are in need of to finally quit smoking. Give some of this advice a try today.