Smoking is a dangerous and unhealthy habit, but due to its addictive nature, it can be very hard to quit smoking. Many people try again and again to kick the habit, but find themselves backsliding and picking up a pack of cigarettes again. The following tips should help you finally quit smoking for good.
Set a specific date for you to stop smoking, and tell everyone you know what this date will be. It will generate a sense of accountability on your part, one that you will be ashamed to not follow through with. You will be seen as a failure or someone who cannot control their actions. In addition, those around you can help you quit, if you give them the opportunity to do so.
When you're ready to quit smoking, and have a plan in place to do so, set a firm date after which you won't smoke anymore. Prepare for the date, and make a big deal out of it. Think of it as the day when you regain control of your life, and make it a joyous occasion.
While it may be difficult, stay away from other smokers while you are trying to quit, or ask smokers to leave their cigarettes at home for a few weeks when they come to visit. One of the biggest triggers for relapse is simply having the opportunity to smoke, so do not make it easy for yourself to bum one off of anyone.
If you are finding that you aren't enjoying food and drinks as much as you used to, consider quitting smoking. Smoking can cause damage to the taste buds in your mouth, meaning that you don't recognize tastes in the same way. If you quit, your taste buds will soon recuperate, meaning you will be able to enjoy your favorite meals once again.
If you are looking for a chemical aid to quit smoking, then be very careful about this approach. Drugs such as Chantix have a relatively weak success rate and can have the potential to cause severe damage to your body. It works by altering your brain chemistry, and can lead to severe depression and suicidal tendencies.
Put a little effort into choosing a quit day. Ideally, set your quit date far enough in the future that you can plan for it, but not so far away that it seems intangible. Do not choose a day that will be busy or stressful, and clearly mark the date on your calendar so that you can prepare for it.
Keep a variety of fresh fruits handy. When you feel the urge to have a cigarette, eat a piece of healthy fruit to help with your cravings. This is preferable to snacking on candy or other unhealthy substances. The fruit will provide a nice dose of vitamins and minerals to help replenish your system.
Improve your chances of successfully quitting by sharing your plan to quit with supportive loved ones and friends. The encouragement you receive can provide extra motivation during rough patches, and telling people about quitting will help you stay more accountable. Have a few people on stand-by whom you can call for distraction whenever you get a craving.
Make a list of healthy things you can do to relieve stress, anxiety or frustration. For many people, smoking is a way to relieve stress. Your list can help you find a better, healthier way of coping with negative feelings so that you won't be as tempted to smoke when you're having a bad day.
Consider all the health benefits to keep you motivated when you are trying to stop smoking. Your blood pressure and pulse will be lower. You will reduce the amount of carbon monoxide in your blood, bringing it back to normal levels. Your chances of heart attack, lung cancer, and emphysema will go down, too.
Find ways to keep your body and mind busy when you quit smoking. Take up walking as this will also help you get in better shape. Another great idea to keep your hands busy is to find a hobby. Learn to sew, knit or learn woodworking. You won't have time to think about cigarettes when you stay busy.
Do not try to set a day to quit. Instead of trying to make a plan, quit today. This sort of planning nearly never works and it will lead to disappointment. Start quitting right away, rather than trying to create an imaginary timeline for yourself. Take action and you will get where you want to be.
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.
A lot of attention is given to how smoking affects you inside, but think about the more obvious ways it affects you. For example, if you have dry or greasy hair, then smoking is a likely culprit. The same is true of uneven skin, yellowed teeth, discolored fingertips and brittle nails. You will see improvements in all of these areas shortly after quitting.
Take up exercise to help you quit smoking. Exercising is wonderful for both your body and mind. It can help you to focus on the positive things in life, and keep you from thinking about that cigarette that you so dearly want. It is also a wonderful way to meet healthy people. When you're around healthy people, it might just make you want to stay healthy too.
If you smoke in your car, give it a good once-over when you quit smoking. Empty and clean the ashtray, vacuum the upholstery, add a new air-freshener, and commit to never smoke in your vehicle again. You will appreciate how much easier it is to keep your car clean when you don't smoke.
As any smoker knows, trying to quit can be a very frustrating experience. The advice and information you have read in this article should have given you some tools you can use to reduce this frustration and make some real progress towards quitting smoking. Make use of these tips to give up this habit for good.
No comments:
Post a Comment