Quitting cold turkey is one of the options you have if you’re trying to ditch the habit of smoking. This method doesn’t mean you have to immediately cut back on cigarettes, although you have an option to. To increase your chance of success using this smoking cessation strategy, here are some tips for you:
Be ready.
Your body won’t take you where your mind cannot lead. The first thing you want to do is to prepare. How? Start by defining your reasons to quit. Basically, if you don’t see any good at quitting smoking, you will not be determined enough to stop. Set expectations. Acknowledge the feelings of fear, anxiety or worry that you have about your decision.
Put your mind and heart to it.
Whatever method you use – whether you decide to use medication, nicotine replacement therapy or undergo counseling, your success depends mainly on you. The only thing that’s going to make you quit is YOU.
Develop a positive attitude.
Negative thoughts can hinder you from succeeding to quit smoking. Whenever you feel bad because you think you are just ‘depriving’ yourself, remember this – you are actually doing yourself a favor. The undesirable symptoms you may be experiencing right now are just temporary. The benefits of not smoking are endless.
Be aware of your smoking triggers
Some situations, emotions, or things can trigger you to go back to your old habit. Situations to avoid are attending social events with smoking friends, sitting in a bar, going to places where smoking is allowed, and the like. Emotions you should be prepared for are feelings of distress, anger, stress, and anxiety. Things to avoid are coffee, alcohol, sugary foods, processed foods, and other fatty, salty meals.
Detoxify.
You have to give focus on flushing away cigarette compounds (particularly nicotine) during your first days of quitting smoking. There are detoxification treatments available today but you can always go with some proven home remedies. These include drinking plenty of fruit juice, exercising, taking supplements or antioxidants, and hydration.
Never puff, again.
It’s easier to get hooked again to smoking if you permit yourself to get even just a single puff. When you do, all your efforts will be wasted. So never, ever dare to light up. When you stop, you have to stop for good. In quitting smoking, there’s no such thing as ‘one last cigarette’.
Plan what to do during stressful situations.
You can never go away from stress. But, you can always protect yourself from the effects it could deliver to your body. Stress is a major smoking trigger for many. When confronted with a crisis, say family illness, traffic jam, relationship issue, and so on, you must have a healthy way to release stress. So before these things happen, think of how you are going to deal with them.
You deserve something great.
Treat yourself once in a while for not smoking. Maybe you can buy a new pair of clothes, gadget, book, or anything as a reward for not smoking. Go out with your non-smoking friends and indulge in your favorite dish. After all, you deserve it!
