You know that smoking kills and with every puff you make, you are killing yourself. You know that it can cause you cancer, heart disease and other serious health problems. You know that it makes you look awful because the toxins in it stains your teeth, gives you wrinkles and cause your skin to dry. You know that when you smoke, you are also harming other people’s health. Yes you know all these things but you have a very big problem. You’re not ready to quit smoking today.
Well, you are not alone. Thousands of smokers understand how smoking ruins their health and well-being but still they could not manage to quit. Don’t blame it to yourself. It’s just that smoking is a hard habit to quit. Nonetheless, it is possible to quit when you want to. Here are some tips for you.
- Start building healthy habits. If you want to quit without feeling like you are actually quitting, this strategy is the one for you. Research shows that people who exercise regularly and eat a balanced diet are more likely to stop smoking that those who follow an unhealthy lifestyle. Think about this. Fatty foods and refined sugars like cakes, ice cream and candy bars make you crave for cigarettes while fruits and vegetables make smoking less pleasurable. Inactivity and boredom increases your urge to light up while exercising reduces your cigarette craving. By adopting healthy habits, you are not actually forcing yourself to quit, but your body is getting used without it.
- Seek help. Remember that in this journey, you are not alone. There are many people and organizations that are very much willing to help you quit smoking now. You can take advantage of free smoking cessation programs offered by the government and some charities. Or, if you have enough funds, you can work with a quit smoking specialist who will guide you closely in eliminating the habit.
- Know your options. If you’re not prepared to quit because you are afraid of the possible withdrawal symptoms, understand that there are plenty of smoking cessation methods that can help you deal with the side effects of quitting. These include taking medications like Chantix, undergoing nicotine replacement therapy, and attending counseling.
- Look at every smoker that passes you by. Go to places where many people smoke. Observe them. Look at their facial expressions, their skin, eyes, lips, teeth and their overall appearance. Then compare them with healthy people you know do not smoke. You will somehow realize that it is much, much better to be a non-smoker than a smoker.
- Talk to successful quitters. If you don’t know of someone, search the web and read their stories. Learn about their personal struggles, and how they manage to overcome them. You might find someone who has dealt with the same issues you are having now. Who could better give you advice than this person? But of course, you are different. You might find that their strategies don’t work for you but still, you’ll sure to learn something from them.
