How To Quit Smoking Without Driving Yourself Crazy
Quitting smoking is not easy, even for those that are strong-willed. Even people who are desperate to quit still believe that smoking provides something to them. These suggestions will help you determine the best way to break the bonds of cigarette addiction.
When you’ve made the decision that smoking is no longer for you, seek out a support group for help. It can help to network with others who understand your physical and emotional symptoms, as they’re experiencing the same thing. This support group can give you the benefit of their experience, what works well to make quitting easier. Contact local community organizations such as community colleges, recreational centers and religious organizations to ask about support groups for ex-smokers.
Take your journey one day at a time. Quitting isn’t a binary thing; it evolves over a long period of time. Take things step by step to maximize your chance for success. Just focus on today, as quitting now will help you in the future.
Let your family and friends in on the secret that you want to quit smoking. Other people knowing about your goal will both hold you accountable and give you a support system. This support may be the additional push that you require to stay strong as you quit.
Get a good night’s sleep every night if you are trying to stop smoking. For many individuals, staying up late at night leads to increased cigarette cravings. This is also an easier time to sneak in a cigarette. If you get at least eight hours of sleep every night, you will be focused and able to stop any cravings.
Staying positive will help you stop smoking for good. Imagine your life after smoking where you’re healthier, happier, and able to stick to your monthly budget with a little left over. Your teeth will look whiter, your clothes will no longer smell like smoke, and your breath will make you far more kissable. It can be beneficial to think about the positive and negative changes that result from quitting, so as to not scare people away.
Consider rewarding yourself for important milestones and plan those rewards in advance. Write down the rewards you will grant yourself upon reaching one day, one week, one month, and one year as a non-smoker. Keep the list on display so that you have to look at it every day. This could provide you assistance in staying motivated whenever you feel weak.
Plan ahead, so that you are prepared to deal with stress without resorting to smoking. Many smokers are used to lighting up when something stressful happens. When you have a concrete plan, it is much easier to avoid smoking. It’s wise to have more than just one idea in case your first idea doesn’t seem to be helping enough.
If you hope to stop smoking, try to avoid any situations that would trigger the need for a cigarette. If you are accustomed to lighting up while you have your first cup of coffee in the morning, or having a smoke while out at happy hour with friends, then change your routine. Don’t drink at a bar for a little while, or drink your coffee someplace new to stop the cravings from occurring.
Do not make any exceptions to your new non-smoking rule. While it might seem fine to smoke an occasional cigarette, just one single puff can undo all your hard work completely. Remember what you’ve already been through and just say no.
The first week after you start quitting smoking is the most difficult. In fact, the first two days–approximately 48 hours–are the worst part of quitting, because you’re detoxifying from nicotine. After that stage, the cravings you feel are mostly psychological. While they are still very real and can be intense, it becomes easier to resist the urge to pick up a cigarette.
Try to maximize exercise and lifting during the course of the day. Exercising can make quitting smoking much more attractive when you notice the immediate improvement of lung capacity. Regular exercise will also ensure that you stave off any potential weight gain. Endorphins from exercise can even help with nicotine withdrawal.
Consult your physician on medications that you could use in helping you quit. Lots of medical advances have been made in quitting smoking. There are many options available to help you stop smoking, and these range from certain medications that help with withdrawal to nicotine replacement therapies. Have a chat with your doctor about your smoking habit and see what techniques they recommend for quitting.
As you’ve seen, quitting smoking doesn’t have to be scary and impossible to do. By using the advice from this article and staying focused, it is possible to effectively quit smoking. You’ll be amazed in a year when you see how successful you’ve been!