There isn’t a person who doesn’t know that cigarettes are harmful to people’s health. The labeling that is mandatory in many countries warns of this but it is still very hard to give up smoking. The fag after lunch has become so enrooted in your personality that you simply don’t want to give it up.
For those who are determined to escape the grasp of cigarettes, here are 8 tips to help you quit smoking once and for all.
It’s all in your head
You might feel resolute at the beginning of your fight to quit smoking but as time goes by, your willpower will waiver. You should counterweight this weakness of the mind by finding a good reason to leave cigarettes and constantly remind yourself of it every time you feel like lighting up a cigarette.
For some people, this reason might be the desire to lead a healthier lifestyle and avoid diseases that affect the lungs and the heart. For others, the wish to spare their family members from secondhand exposure to smoke is the determining factor. Whatever the reason may be, use it to stay focused on the task ahead.
Get support from people around you
Since it’s all in your head, you are going to have doubts and times of weakness. That’s why it is wise to inform your family and close friends that you are quitting so they can support you and help you stay on the right track. They can hide cigarettes from you and encourage you not to give up. There is even professional help available in the form of councilors and support groups.
Avoid other nerve stimuli
Arguably, smoking is a vice but the undeniable truth is that it’s a nasty habit that you should look to shake off. It doesn’t help if you take up drinking or drinking too much coffee to make up for the lack of smoke in your life.
In fact, nicotine, alcohol, and caffeine have been known to cause mental disorders which are the last thing you need when trying to stay strong. Give up drinking and coffee for a couple of weeks until the most critical phase passes. You can use tea instead of coffee if you feel the urge for a hot beverage in the morning.
Consider vaping
Since quitting smoking is not a single act but rather a process, you shouldn’t stop smoking abruptly. As a great way to mimic the sensation of smoking, you can temporarily take up vaping. Companies like Hoopers Vapour will supply you with all the accessories necessary to switch to a form of smoking that doesn’t involve burning tobacco. Inhaling a flavored aerosol of your choice is more acceptable than inhaling cigarette smoke.
Clean out the house
Needless to say, you should get rid of tobacco paraphernalia like packs of cigarettes, ashtrays, lighters, and a snuff box if you own one. These all act like mental triggers that will counter your efforts to quit smoking. Furthermore, clean the carpets, curtains, and the upholstery in your house so it doesn’t give out the smell of burned tobacco.
You should wash your clothes as well and clean the inside of the office and the car. A pine-scented air freshener should help get rid of the smell of cigarette smoke that can linger for days after you’ve smoked your last fag.
It is OK to reward yourself
It might not seem like much but people who successfully give up smoking are real champions and like all winners, they deserve a reward. Since you won’t be spending thousands of dollars a year on packs of cigarettes, use this money to buy yourself a gift for completing the process successfully. This reward will act as an additional motivator to keep you going through rough patches. Also, keep in mind that the greatest gift you get is health.
Adopt a healthier lifestyle
Speaking of health, you shouldn’t just stay clear of alcohol but introduce healthy habits. Start by altering your diet and introduce more veggies on the daily menu. Start jogging in the park or hit the gym, whatever you prefer. In general, adopting a healthier lifestyle will help you fight the urge to light a cigarette and supplant the hand-to-mouth action essential to smoking. Lifting cigarettes should be replaced with lifting veggies.
Try to quit time after time
Few people manage to quit smoking in the first go. The task beforehand is hard and there is no reason to feel ashamed if you fail several times. The secret is to keep persevering, as you will notice how each new attempt brings more tobacco-free days. Think of the trigger(s) that made you relapse the previous times and eliminate them in the next attempt.
Before you begin taking the steps listed above, be reminded that giving up tobacco is a process. This means that you should focus only on the day ahead and not make long-term ambitious plans. If you haven’t smoked today, then you have already made a crucial step in quitting smoking for good.
