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.
Just take each day as it comes. To stop smoking is a process. Because of this, it’s counterproductive to think too far ahead. Approach quitting on a day-by-day basis. Give yourself credit for every day you succeed, and you might be surprised by how quickly those days turn into weeks.
When you smoke, you sometimes are just obsessed with the feeling of having something in your mouth. This can be replaced with a less dangerous habit such as chewing gum or eating candy. Anytime you feel like smoking, just have a piece of hard candy or chew a stick of gum.
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.
Creating a workout plan or an exercise program to help fill the void left by cigarettes. In addition, exercise will assist you in lowering stress. If you haven’t been exercising regularly, then start slow by taking a walk outside once every day or two. Speak to a physician before you start any kind of exercise regimen.
It does not matter how long it has been since you gave up smoking, you can never have “just one”. You are a nicotine addict. While just one does not mean you will be smoking a packet a day again by morning, it will mean that you have “just one more” a lot sooner than you would like.
One of the hardest things to deal with when quitting smoking is the oral fixation. Once you give up cigarettes, consider carrying sugar-free candies, cough drops or coffee stirrers around to keep your mouth busy and keep you mind off of cigarettes. There are also devices made to help you quit smoking that will also help keep you mouth busy.
If you’re a smoker who lights up more in social situations, plan ways to not join your friends for a cigarette when you’re out. While dining, stay at the table if your friends go outside for to smoke. If you’re at a party, if people are smoking, find a non-smoker to chat with. Finding ways to not be around smokers will make it easier for you to quit.
Do not quit alone. Tell everyone you around on regularly that you are trying to quit smoking. They can provide support and encouragement and it can make a huge difference. You might also consider a support group or a counselor. Behavior therapy can help you come up with and stick to strategies that will help you quit smoking.
If you have very strong associations between smoking and drinking coffee or smoking while you’re drinking, you may need to avoid these triggers for a while. Once you feel comfortable enough in your ability to stay away from cigarettes, you can slowly bring back that morning cup of joe or happy hour with your friends.
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.