
Almost everyone who smokes realizes they should quit. Has any smoker ever extolled the great health benefits of smoking? Only people who have been able to quit smoking really understand how much effort is required. The following article will provide you with some of their proven tips.
Cold Turkey
Find a way to quit smoking that works for you, but try to do it little by little. It is not usually wise to try and quit cold turkey. Quitting cold turkey is only effective about 5% of the time. Nicotine is extremely addictive, so use a patch, therapy or medication. Using these treatments will help you avoid withdrawal symptoms so that you can more easily stop smoking for good.
Understand that quitting smoking will take a long time to materialize. Remember that quitting will always be a process, and it doesn’t usually happen over night. You can’t worry about the future. Keep your focus on making it through one day at a time, with the idea that the habits you create or break today will follow you into the future.
When quitting smoking, inform your family and friends about your intentions. By letting them know, they can give you the motivation you need. A supportive group of loved ones can give you the push you need to stick to your plans for quitting.
Smoking is a step-by-step process that should be done day by day. Focus on getting through just one day without smoking. Focusing on one day at a time is easier than focusing on the long-term. Once you feel more comfortable, you can start thinking about long term goals.
10 Minutes
When you feel an overwhelming urge to smoke, use the delay tactic. Tell yourself that you will wait 10 minutes and then find a way to distract yourself for that time period. Usually, after the 10 minutes have passed, any craving will have gone away. If the 10 minutes wasn’t enough, then keep delaying yourself until it urge has passed.
If you do not think you can quit cold turkey, try nicotine replacement products, like gum or patches. You can buy these products over the counter. They allow you to get your daily dose of nicotine and work toward getting rid of this habit without suffering from withdrawal symptoms.
If you’re thinking about quitting smoking, it’s important that you talk to your doctor beforehand. Your physician could have additional resources or methods for stopping smoking that you did not know existed. A physician may also choose to prescribe medication, if they feel it is necessary.
A benefit of quitting smoking is so you can improve the health of all those near you. Secondhand smoke causes lung disease, cancer, and other health problems to everyone around you. Once you quit for your own health, your family also quits breathing the secondhand smoke that your smoking habit generates. Not only will you be saving your own life, you will be keeping your loved ones healthy.
Tell everyone you know about your desire to quit smoking. They can be there to help you quit. A support system can be tremendously valuable. The chance of being successful in your quest to give up smoking will be increased significantly.
Stay as optimistic as possible when developing a regimen to stop smoking. Think positively about how your life is going to be so much better once you quit smoking. Consider that your teeth are going to be brighter and cleaner, your breath and clothes will smell better, and your home is going to be full of freshness and cleanliness. Make sure to also focus on the positive benefits to life after quitting smoking.
If you smoke in your home, give it a very thorough cleaning when you quit. Clean your carpets, furniture and drapes. You might even consider putting a fresh coat of paint on the walls. Your home will smell fresh and clean, and you will not be reminded of smoking every time you walk in the door.
When quitting smoking, keep in mind that the process will be most difficult during the first week. In fact, the first two days–approximately 48 hours–are the worst part of quitting, because you’re detoxifying from nicotine. After this initial period, your nicotine cravings will, for the most part, be psychological. Understanding this can make resisting the cravings less traumatic.
If you do not succeed at quitting initially, don’t beat up on yourself or get discouraged. Even people who have the best intentions and planning may end up smoking in the future. Examine where you felt your weakness was, and figure out how you can learn from your experience when you try again. You may find victory in a future effort down the road.
Non-smokers don’t understand why you smoke when you know what it does to you. They are also unable to comprehend just how tough quitting truly is. There are people that have stop smoking, and they have used some of the methods explained in this article. Apply their experiences to your life and liberate yourself from smoking.