Many people find that quitting smoking was one of the hardest things they have ever done. There is no sure way that works for everyone. You might have to do a little research and experimentation until you find the techniques that will work for you. The following tips will help you quit successfully.
A regular exercise program will help you in your efforts to stop smoking. You can also lower your stress levels by exercising. You should start off slowly if you have not exercised in quite some time. Going for a short walk is a great example of a beginner exercise. Before beginning an exercise plan, discuss this with your doctor.
Make sure you take the process one step at the time. Quitting can be a task that needs to be dealt with methodically. Take it one day at a time and as each day turns into another, which will help establish a habit that will help you over the long term.
Ask your family members to get on board with your decision to stop smoking. You need to let them know that you want their support, this is the only way you can get help. Let them know you might be cranky or irritable because of withdrawals, and that you might not be quite yourself. Quitting smoking is a real challenge, so you should enlist the support of your loved ones to help you through the process.
When a cigarette craving strikes, try to implement delays. Tell yourself how you’ll feel in about 10 minutes and distract yourself. You should see the craving pass within the 10 minutes. If this does not happen right away, keep repeating this technique.
If your cold turkey effort to quit smoking failed, add some nicotine substitutes and see if that works.
Nicotine Replacement
Quitting a smoking habit is hard enough, but dealing with your smoking triggers will help you out immensely. Change your behavior, so you aren’t tempted, for example, go to new restaurants that do not allow smoking. Try to use other things to distract your thoughts, if you are thinking about smoking.
You may want to try nicotine replacement. When you are suffering from nicotine withdrawal, you may feel restless, depressed, irritable or frustrated. The constant cravings can be overwhelming. Nicotine replacement products such as gum can be very effective in your body. It is very dangerous to smoke while using these products; therefore, though.
For instance, if you always smoke when you are talking on the phone, it is important to adjust the way you do such things, so that you don’t automatically pull out a cigarette out of habit. Try to find some type of the subject.
Don’t do this all by yourself. Gather a support group of non-smoking friends and family to help you when you are struggling. In addition, it’s an excellent idea to find a support group to join. Your peers will know exactly what you’re going through and be able to offer assistance and advice.
You should not attempt to shoulder the entire burden of smoking cessation. You may also gain quite a bit from joining a support group.
Secondhand smoke can affect the health issues. By quitting, you are reducing your loved ones’ exposure to this dangerous substance, and improving the quality of the air they breathe. Quitting smoking now will make you and those you love.
If you reach a milestone while quitting, congratulate or reward yourself for your accomplishments. For instance, once a week has gone by without a cigarette, go to a movie. 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. You can build your rewards up, making each month and year without smoking an even sweeter success.
Reduce the amount of cigarettes you smoke a little each day. This helps to guide you in starting out your reliance on cigarettes. Try waiting at least one hour after waking before having your first morning cigarette. Another alternative is to smoke only half of a cigarette each smoking session.
Most people are not going to be successful at quitting on the first try. When you decide to stop smoking, try to remain smoke-free for the longest period of time that you possibly can. If you fail the first time, immediately pick a new “quit” date. Just continue to quit and try to stop longer each time, learning along the way.
If you smoked, inside your house, give it a complete cleaning once you have quit. Get your carpet and upholstery professionally cleaned, remove residue from the walls, and run your drapes and curtains through the wash. The difference will be evident not only to you but to all your visitors, and you won’t have to smell cigarettes while you are trying to quit.
Giving up cigarettes is not easy, and there’s no magic cure-all. In spite of the difficulty it is not impossible to quit. When you draw on a variety of resources, it becomes easier to meet your goals and stay motivated. With persistence and will power, you will hopefully be able to finally quit!