(Newswire.net — October 13, 2016) — Anyone that’s tried to quit smoking probably already knows by now how very hard that is.
If you’re currently in this position – you want to quit smoking, or you’re already on your way to quitting – then here are 11 tips to make your journey easier and more successful:
1. Prepare
While you can just wake up suddenly one day and decide to quit smoking, it is better to make quitting something you prepare for. Along the line, people find out that it’s harder to quit smoking than they thought, and before long they find themselves relapsing – giving in into the craving to smoke.
But when you prepare to quit, by selecting a date, choosing accountability partners, cleaning your home to get rid of anything that makes you smoke, and so on, your chances of successfully quitting increases a lot.
2. Find motivation
Deciding to quit smoking without a big “why” might make the process very difficult for you. But when you have a strong reason or motivation to want to quit, you’ll find more success. These reasons could range from health reasons to your love for someone special – child, spouse, etc. Whatever your reason is, just make it strong enough to make you want to quit already.
3. Find external support
You don’t have to go through your quitting process alone, it’s harder than when you have external support, maybe from a friend or spouse, a therapist, or a quit-smoking program. You can even use a quit-smoking app.
4. Find healthier options
Regular exercise, new hobbies, new friends, good meals, and more are healthier options that have been found to help on your journey of quitting smoking.
E-cigarettes are good options too, especially at the early stage of quitting, when it’s hardest. The e-liquid used in the electronic cigarettes can either be nicotine-based or flavored.
5. Use nicotine-replacement therapy
Another way to get nicotine without tobacco is to use nicotine-replacement products, like nicotine gums, patches, and lozenges.
6. Resort to medications
If you find it hard to quit smoking on your own (“cold turkey”), you can resort to prescription medicines that’ll help you curb cravings, make smoking less desirable to you, or ease withdrawal symptoms.
7. Avoid known triggers
Discover what gives you the urge to smoke and totally avoid them. Smoking friends, certain bars or clubs, the ashtray, cigarette stores, a particular mood or emotion, whatever it is that makes you feel like lighting up, avoid it (or them) as much as you can.
8. Don’t give in to cravings
Every time you don’t smoke when you have the cravings, you boost your chances of quitting. So when that urge comes, don’t give in.
9. Reward yourself
Whenever you hit a milestone in your cigarette-quitting journey (maybe you successfully didn’t smoke for the first week or you finally quit) make sure you reward yourself. It gives you more sense of accomplishment and victory.
One good way to reward yourself is to save up the money you’d have otherwise spent on buying cigarette and later use it to buy for yourself something nice or do something fun. Your reward alone can be motivation to keep going.
10. Never stop trying
It’s very likely you fail on your first attempt to quit smoking, especially when you’re going through the process alone. It’s normal, don’t beat yourself up and don’t let it lead to depression. Simply try all over again. Not giving up on quitting is the key.
11. Enjoy the health benefits that follow
Make sure you take notice of the changes in your overall health when you quit smoking. Some health benefits can appear as early as within few hours, and some are in the long run. Relish these healthier moments of your life, and they’ll further concrete your reasons to quit smoking.