How To Quit Smoking For The Last Time
Quitting smoking is often seen as simply a matter of going cold turkey and tossing your cigarettes in the trash. While these techniques might help with quitting, it doesn’t really need to be that hard. There are various aids and techniques so that you can stop smoking for good.
You may wish to join a support group when you decide to stop smoking. Talking to your peers will help you to find new techniques for fighting cravings, have emotional support and find new non-smoking friends. Other ex-smokers can support you in your attempt to stop smoking, and can suggest techniques to try that worked for them. Contact local community organizations such as community colleges, recreational centers and religious organizations to ask about support groups for ex-smokers.
Create a list of ideas on how quitting smoking can be achieved. Make sure to match your list to your unique personality. Each person has a unique way to taking care of things and accomplishing goals. You have to figure out what works best for yourself and your lifestyle. Drafting a personal list will help you to accomplish this.
Term Goals
If you want to stop smoking forever, stop thinking about forever. Make your goals very short and attainable – one day at a time. Short term goals can make the process of quitting both mentally and physically easier. Once you start becoming comfortable with your commitment to stop smoking, you can start to make longer term goals.
You may want to try nicotine replacement therapy. Withdrawal from cigarettes can leave you irritated, depressed, or frustrated. The cravings you feel for nicotine may be uncontrollable. Nicotine-replacement systems help you deal with the cravings. People who use these products have twice as much likelihood of quitting for good as those who go cold turkey. Take care to avoid using these products will you are still smoking.
When you are trying to stop smoking, you have to stay away from the things that trigger you and make you smoke. For example, if you liked to smoke in the car, or when you were reading a book, then you need to change your behavior when doing those things, so as to not automatically think about smoking. Distract yourself with something else at those times.
Reward yourself for accomplishing a milestone and plan each reward in advance. Come up with a worthwhile reward for every set amount of days, weeks or months you go without smoking. Post the list in a noticeable place where you will be able to see it each day. This motivation will be helpful when you’re feeling temptation.
As you learn to live without cigarettes, it is helpful to avoid trigger situations that would normally involve smoking for you. If you had morning coffee and a cigarette or went to happy hour and smoked, change your routine. You could have your coffee while you are driving into work or avoid the bar altogether so that you avoid the smoking triggers you are used to.
Now that you have read this article, you should have a good idea of some steps you can take to help ensure that you stay smoke-free. While it might not be realistic to think you are never going to be tempted again, you are more likely to quit in a way that not difficult if you apply the tips in this article to your life.