Acne

You Can Give Up Smoking With These Pointers

Chris Kostopoulos Nov 25, 2012 · 4 min read

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

Many smokers become addicted to nicotine, which is a very addictive substance, making it hard for them to quit. This makes quitting smoking a very difficult thing to do. Knowing what it takes to successfully quit will help you get over the withdrawal symptoms, so read on to find tips which can help you to succeed.

Let your family and friends know that you plan to stop smoking. They will keep you on track and encourage you when you are feeling weak. The most effective way to quit is by having people around who support you. You will find that your confidence in succeeding is increased, and your goals are attainable.

TIP! Substitue a healthy habit like exercise for your smoking. Exercise releases endorphins into your system.

Create a mantra of the most important reasons you have to stop smoking. Every time you feel your resolve wavering, repeat those reasons aloud to yourself over and over until the craving passes. This will allow you to take control of your addiction, in an effort to optimize your chance for success.

Construct a list of reasons why you want to kick your smoking habit. Make this list all inclusive, from the smallest reasons to the largest. When you are tempted to smoke, refer to your list of reasons why you want to quit. This will cement your decision and refresh your priorities.

Try doing breathing exercises when you crave a cigarette. As you count to ten, take a deep breath through your nose. Hold this breath for a few seconds, then slowly exhale out the mouth while counting to ten again. This type of breathing can ease tension and stress and help you to distract yourself from cravings. It will also make you more aware that your respiratory system will be improving every single day that you do not have a cigarette.

TIP! If you’re having trouble quitting smoking on your own, talk to your doctor. A variety of medications are available to make the quitting process easier, from anti-depressants to medications that make smoking less desirable.

When you’re kicking the smoking habit, make sure you get a good night’s sleep. When you feel tired and lethargic, feel free to take a nap. Some quitters have found that sleeping helps them to pass the time they need to get some distance between themselves and the date of the quit. Further, getting sufficient sleep hastens the body’s recovery process.

Give yourself rewards for quitting smoking. Smoking is a costly habit. Set aside that money, and buy a reward for yourself every so often. Few things speak as loudly as financial freedom, which makes this method especially effective as a motivational tool.

The moment you have quit smoking, take the money you would otherwise have spent on cigarettes and use it to purchase some bottled water. Consistent hydration is not a nicotine substitute, but it will definitely mean staying busy and healthier. The other benefit of drinking lots of water, is that it will flush the toxins from your system that came from being a smoker. Once the cravings subside, you can use the extra money on rewards instead.

TIP! If you are ready to quit smoking, try hypnosis. Hypnosis has helped many people to successfully quit for good.

When you are slowly cutting back on cigarettes to reach a smoke-free lifestyle, ban smoking from your home. You will be less likely to smoke if it becomes an inconvenience. Going outside where it’s cold, without a computer or television, could help you in stopping the habit sooner.

Spend some time thinking about the most important reasons that you want to stop smoking. Make a list of the most critical reasons you need to quit and keep it with you. Whenever you feel like having a cigarette, pull out your list of reasons and remind yourself of why you quit in the first place.

Tell your relatives that you are quitting, so that they can provide support. It’s important they understand you need their non-judgmental support. Warn them about the fact that you’ll likely be grumpier than usual as you begin the process. You could also be a bit fuzzy-brained. It is not easy to stop smoking, and you need to have support from your loved ones during this process.

TIP! It can help to reward yourself for each day or week you go without smoking. Eat your favorite meal or buy something for yourself on days that you don’t smoke.

If you just can’t stand the cravings that come from quitting smoking, then nicotine replacement therapy could be the answer. Chewing nicotine gum or using a nicotine patch will keep you from going through withdrawals, but will allow you to break the habit of smoking. Once you have given up the cigarettes for good, you can start weaning yourself from nicotine altogether.

The addictive nature of nicotine makes it very difficult to quit smoking. Stopping can cause both physical and emotional withdrawals. You can make the process much simpler by following all of the advice we’ve posted here. With this helpful information, and your hard work, you can stop smoking.