Drop That Smoking Habit Today With These Effective Strategies
For many people, stress and pressure from the outside world makes smoking seem like an absolute must; it is difficult to find reasons to quit. By using the advice and tips in this article, you will be able to free yourself from your smoking habit, and quit for good.
If you can’t do away with a craving altogether, try to at least hold out against it for as long as possible. For example, require yourself to take a long stroll before you give in and have a smoke. If nothing else, pour yourself a big iced tea and promise yourself to finish drinking it first. Often, you will find that just giving your mind some time and something to occupy itself with you will be able to get past the craving without having to smoke. If you do end up giving in anyway, at least that was a little longer that you were able to be smoke-free.
Be open and let people know about your goal to stop smoking. When you entrust the people around you with this information, they can do things to help you stay motivated and keep temptation away. This support may be the additional push that you require to stay strong as you quit.
Day-by-day is the only way to go about quitting smoking. Don’t think about quitting for the rest of your life — just think about today. With a shorter time frame, it will be an easier mental and physical task. Once you are committed to short term quitting, thinking about the long term will be easier.
Adequate Sleep
Make sure to get adequate sleep while you try to stop smoking. Not getting adequate sleep can sometimes lead to cravings. Late nights may also be tempting times to sneak a cigarette, especially if the rest of your house is asleep. Optimize your health and reduce your cravings by sleeping for at least eight hours per night.
To prevent yourself from gaining weight after quitting smoking, snack on fresh fruits and vegetables instead of sweets or carb-laden foods. People can gain weight when they stop smoking, so be mindful of what you put into your mouth, making these veggie snacks a great idea. You body will be craving food when you stop smoking and a healthy diet will keep you focusing on a healthy lifestyle.
You will be more successful if you do not attempt to shoulder the entire burden of smoking cessation. Do not alienate friends and family, as you can use these people for support. Joining a support group is another great idea. Your peers will know exactly what you’re going through and be able to offer assistance and advice.
Celebrate each milestone along your way to quitting, choosing little rewards you enjoy. If you can go for a full week without smoking a single cigarette, reward yourself with a new shirt or a movie ticket. Once you’ve passed that month long milestone, enjoy a fancy night out at your favorite restaurant. Continue creating rewards to work towards until you forget about smoking and are ready to move past it completely.
When you stop smoking, start by changing brands. Give up your preferred brand to one that you find absolutely horrible. Don’t smoke more than you typically would or inhale them differently. This is a great tool to begin your journey of quitting.
Cut back on how much you smoke. This will help you get started on your journey to stop smoking. Do not smoke in the first hour when you wake up if you are planning on having a cigarette. You can also try to only smoke half of a cigarette at a time to cut back on smoking.
Hopefully the prospect of quitting smoking permanently now feels more accessible. Tell others about the steps you are taking to stop smoking, so that they can benefit from them as well.