Knowing that you need to quit smoking is one thing. With all the warnings about your health, cancer, and other disadvantages that smoking can cause, it is easy to know why you should quit. However, the problem comes when you are seeking answers on how to quit smoking successfully. What works, what doesn’t, and where should you look for help?
The following discusses just some of the things you need to know about quitting and where to turn so that you can not only quit but know how to quit smoking effectively.
Prepare Yourself to Quit
One of the most important keys to know how to quit smoking is to prepare yourself to quit. You must recognize the need, have the desire, and know that you can do it with the right tools. If you go into quitting without a plan or without the desire, it simply will not be as likely that you will remain smoke free.
As with any endeavour you undertake, you should not begin without a plan and knowing how to quit smoking is no different. Try making a list of all the reasons you want to quit. Maybe it’s your health or maybe your family.
Maybe it’s the finances or something else. Whatever it is, write it down and place it in a place in your home that you will see every day. This will remind you that you are beginning a journey and all the reasons why you need to stay on that journey. It reminds you of your own goals and why you want to quit.
Further, rather than try quitting right away, try setting a date for yourself in the future. A goal date, if you will, to begin your journey toward a smoke free world. Trying to quit right away may make you feel intimidated or ill-prepared. Set a date in the future and you may just see your results improve.
1. Know Your Body’s Response
One of the most important things to know about how to quit smoking is to know that your body is going to go through withdrawals. These withdrawals, however, usually only last one to two weeks, and then the body resets itself to meet the demands of a smoke-free you.
Further, know that you are not alone. Every year, more than three million individuals quit smoking, and this year you could be one of them. That is not to say that it is not tough. But you are capable of quitting and with the right guidance these chances improve drastically.
2. Switch Brands
One way that it is recommended in how to quit smoking is to switch brands of cigarettes. Try switching to a brand that you do not find as appealing or that tastes badly to you. This means that you will be less likely to pick up that cigarette in the first place and you may find the taste so adverse that you naturally begin to wean yourself off the product. This method has been successful for some based on the sheer pleasure that they used to gain from smoking and now do not.
3. Get A Friend
One of the most important things to know about how to quit smoking is that you should involve another person. Support is important so look for individuals in your life who have quit, or want to quit, or who will provide you with the support you need 24/7 a day. These individuals can be there to lift you up when you are feeling doubtful or to give you that burst of confidence to get through the day.
Try calling them when times are tough and you may find that that support is just what you needed to push through another craving. Also, most states have 24/7 hotlines that will provide you with someone to talk to that will guide you through a craving.
Check out resources on the web from non-profit organizations or through your department of help to see if you have a how to quit smoking hotline that can guide you toward success. Support does not have to come from people we know but online support groups can be great too!
4. Avoid Temptation
Concerning how to quit smoking successfully, do not put yourself in tempting situations. Change your routine so that you do not do the same things you do every day that entice you to smoke. If you smoke with alcohol, try not drinking to stop your body from craving the nicotine it has become accustomed to.
If you smoke in the car, hide all of your lighters and remove the ashtray if possible so that you are reminded that you are on your quitting journey!
You can also try cutting back originally from many cigarettes a day to a few. This can really change habits and routines and prepare you to know how to quit smoking, but simply cutting back is not the same as quitting. Make sure that you do not equate cutting back with quitting and that you work toward a one day smoke-free you by changing your routines and habits and allowing your body to catch up appropriately to the new you!
5. You Can Do It
The fact is that, as aforementioned, many individuals every year stop smoking and lead a better and healthier life. You are no different than they were. Whether you smoke two packs a day or just a few cigarettes, you can know how to quit smoking successfully and with this knowledge you can quit soon. Prepare yourself, remember what your body is going through, and allow yourself time to adjust.
Make it more difficult to smoke and ration cigarettes so that you are not going cold turkey before your set quit date. Look to a friend or a hotline for advice when you are struggling.
Quitting smoking can be one of the toughest things to do, so recognizing what you are up against is important. You should, however, know that you can do it and with the right guidance you will be on your way to success.