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Planning to Quit Smoking? Here are Some Useful Tips
Because smoking cigarettes is addictive due to the chemicals that can affect your nervous system by putting you in a state where you need to have more, smokers find it very hard to quit. Part of the reason why quitting is that difficult for smokers is because they do not know how to manage the cravings that may arise as a result of their addiction to cigarettes. Fortunately, there are some useful tips that can help you quit smoking easier.
1. Ease Into It
Quitting cold turkey can be tough. It can put extra strain because you’ll be dealing with both physical cravings as well as psychological and emotional tribulations. In addition, changing your habits suddenly can cause you to feel frustrated and discouraged, making you want to go back to smoking. One way to push yourself through this period is to ease into it. As you can see at DemandDistribution.com, there are plenty of alternatives to cigarettes that can help you with this. A lot of ex-smokers say that the hardest thing for them initially was not knowing what to do with their hands. Investing in some e-cigarettes or using nicotine patches may help you get your mind off cigarettes. When you feel the urge to smoke, just take a puff from your e-cig or apply a patch and then see how that feels.
2. Proper Motivation
One of the biggest reasons why smokers find it hard to quit is because they’re not sure what they’re quitting for. The first step in quitting should always be deciding on your motivation – and finding ways to reaffirm it each day. Is it your family that you want to set a good example for? Do you want to be around long enough to see your kids graduate? It could also be that you’re done with spending so much money on cigarettes – or perhaps that your addiction is just making you feel sick. Whatever the reason, think about it every day and remind yourself why it’s important for you. Even better? Post reminders around the house, like on the bathroom mirror or refrigerator door. It’s also important to remember you don’t have to settle on just one thing that motivates you – the more reasons you have for quitting, the better.
3. Lifestyle Changes
Smoking is a habit. And, like most habits, it’s one that you can change if you’re prepared to put in the work. Starting a healthier lifestyle overall can help keep you on track. For starters, any time you feel like grabbing a smoke, do five squats, 10 crunches, or do some simple stretching exercises. Not only will that help you recenter your focus, but the endorphins released after a session of exercise may make the cravings disappear. Apart from that, try substituting. Instead of smoking after every meal, try switching out your packs of cigarettes for healthier alternatives such as chewing gum or chomping on some celery sticks. If you’re used to having a smoke with your morning coffee – try substituting that for some green tea. Think about which actions make your cravings worse, and then try replacing them with some healthy habit-forming alternatives.
4. Support System
Having a supportive family and friends around you is critical in helping you stay motivated to quit, especially when transitioning from smoker to non-smoker status. Getting together with your best buds for a poker night or even just hanging out at home can help distract you from the urge to smoke. Telling people you’ve quit can add an extra layer of motivation, and having someone to talk to about what you’re going through and the progress you’re making can help keep you on track. Of course, it’s important that the people in your support system aren’t smokers themselves. In fact, it might be useful to avoid places where smoking is allowed if at all possible, at least for the first few weeks. Not only will that help you get rid of the associations, but it’ll also keep things less stressful.
5. Helpful Apps
There are a number of apps that can help you quit smoking. They all work kind of differently – some take you through all the steps you need to take, while others simply provide supportive messages, but almost all of them tell you how long you’ve been cigarette-free. A lot of people find it easier to take it day by day when they can see how much time has passed, and apps like this can help you stay motivated. There are plenty of them that you can find for free on the Apple and GooglePlay stores, so do some research, find one you like the look of, and give it a try.
Smoking is a difficult habit to break, but with the right motivation and support, it can be done. Use these tips as a guideline for your own quit-smoking campaign, and you should find it easier than ever before! Not all of these tips will work for everyone – but that’s okay. If one doesn’t seem to be working, try substituting it with something that might help you out instead. The most important thing is that you’re making progress and taking positive steps towards a better future.
