One of the most difficult things you’ll ever have to do is quit smoking. But quitting smoking is not impossible.
First, you’ll need to find good reasons why to quit, and then you’ll have to make certain lifestyle changes. If you’re at the point of your life where you know that quitting smoking is the best for you and those around you, you’ll need some tips.
Here are the 10 best quit-smoking tips ever that are guaranteed to work.
1. Reasons to quit
Usually, people don’t quit unless they have a powerful reason. That reason is what motivates them to stop smoking. It may be one reason or several – whatever the case, you’ll need to identify those reasons and keep them present whenever you feel like going back to smoking.
For some people reasons for quitting include their health, the health of their loved ones, desire to change something in their lives. and so on.
Whatever your reason is it needs to be powerful, something that will remind you to stop smoking whenever you have the urge to light up.
2. Identify your triggers
Everyone has different triggers. For some people drinking coffee is a trigger, for others, it’s drinking alcohol at a party, sometimes handling lighter or matches can too be a trigger.
In the process of quitting smoking, it’s important that you identify your triggers – things that make you want to smoke. For example, alcohol is one of the main triggers for many people, so the best solution would be to stay away from alcohol for a few weeks after quitting to make it easier on yourself.
Once you identify your trigger or triggers, it will be easier to stay away from them until you’re sure that it won’t set you back in your intention to quit.
3. Consider nicotine replacement therapy
If quitting smoking was that easy as to identify triggers and stay away from them for the time being, many people would stop smoking.
However, quitting smoking is far from easy. Once you stop smoking, your body will crave nicotine, which means that for a few weeks you’ll experience nicotine withdrawal. This nicotine withdrawal comes with headaches, fatigue, dry mouth, and so on.
To combat the withdrawal consider using nicotine replacement therapy products such as gums, patches, mouth spray, and other similar products that will help you reduce the withdrawal symptoms.
If none of the nicotine replacement products work, try using an e-cigarette to stop withdrawals. E-cigs also known as vapes have helped many people quit smoking. The reason e-cigs are such a great product to use when trying to quit smoking is that they don’t contain your regular nicotine. Instead, e-cigs contain nicotine vape juice which is less harmful than burning tobacco.
4. Change your diet
It’s not strange that people who stop smoking gain some weight. This weight gain happens due to the shifts in your metabolism. Smoking suppresses your appetite and once you quit your metabolism will slow down and you may start eating more than when you smoked.
To avoid gaining too much weight when you quit smoking you should watch what you eat and drink plenty of water. If you have to eat more often – eat six smaller meals throughout the day. Simply aim to change your diet by downsizing your portions and not completely throwing out certain food groups.
5. Get moving
When you quit smoking, exercise and physical activity can help you cut cravings and it can also help you not gain undesired weight. That’s why you should try to incorporate some sort of exercise into your life.
Whether that is walking, cycling, jogging, or cleaning your house, even 5 minutes of some sort of physical activity can help out a lot.
6. Think positive
The mindset is everything when trying to stop smoking. It’s about beating the psychological dependency – which is the most difficult part of quitting smoking. You need to practice positive thinking to change your attitude about smoking. Since the addiction started in your mind so does the power to quit it.
So, practice positive thinking by using visualization and affirmations, tracking your progress, and always having present reasons why you want to quit.
7. Seek support from loved ones
There are no better cheerleaders than the people you love. Don’t be afraid to tell your friends and family about your intention of quitting smoking. They will be there to help you and encourage you not to relapse.
If you feel like you need more support, you can always talk to a counselor or you can join your local support group. There are so many people trying to quit smoking, you’d be surprised.
8. Give yourself a break
Many people use smoking as a way to relax and de-stress. Once you quit smoking you’ll be losing this. That’s why it’s important that you find other ways to unwind and destress.
Exercise is a great way to destress, you can find a hobby or indulge in a massage every now and then. Simply, find something else that will help you relax after a long stressful day that doesn’t include smoking.
9. Make non-smoking friends
Making non-smoking friends is also a good idea, especially when you’re at parties. Stick with people who don’t smoke and try not to be envious of those smoking.
Instead, be glad that you no longer need to get out to smoke. Non-smoking friends won’t trigger your smoking needs.
10. Stick to a plan
Having some sort of plan is always a good idea. Quitting smoking is not going to be easy and that’s precisely why you should take it one step at a time.
Don’t make plans that you know you won’t be able to fulfill. Start by reducing your smoking – fewer cigarettes during the day, then gradually quit them completely. Simply make a realistic plan you’ll be able to stick to.
Now that you know how to quit smoking, it’s time to try it. Just remember – giving up is no option. You can do whatever you set your mind to, just keep pushing!