5 Steps to Follow
Anyone who’s concerned about you will advice you one thing over and over again – quit smoking now. Friends and family can really put a lot of pressure on you. But if you don’t want to, quitting smoking can be tremendously difficult.
Maybe you don’t want to quit because you find no reason to quit at all. Or, you’re just denying the fact that you’re already hooked (better term than “addicted”) to cigarettes. Maybe you feel compelled to stop smoking now because your parents keep on nagging at you, or you are already experiencing the consequences of smoking. Whatever it is, you can actually quit smoking and guarantee your success. Here’s how:
1. Find a reason to quit.
First of all, you need to find a reason to stop smoking today. It is not enough that you will quit because your parents, partner, or friends tell you so. The reason has to be rooted deep within you. It has to have meaning. It has to be so powerful that you will be inspired to quit. Can’t find a reason to quit? You may want to list down the negative effects of smoking on your health, relationship, physical and emotional well-being, and your finances. After this, you will realise that there are thousands of reasons to stop smoking now.
2. See if you have enough willpower.
If you have weaker willpower, or you have an addictive personality, you may need to work on it now. You need to be mentally prepared to quit smoking. The physical effects of quitting are terrible enough that if you don’t have the willpower, you may find it easy to give up.
3. Prepare to quit.
How do you do this? First of all, set a quit smoking date. It can be really helpful to let your family and friends know that you are quitting. Let them know that you need their support. Seek professional help. To fully prepare yourself, you want someone who can provide you information on the possible smoking cessation methods that you can utilize. Speak with a specialist. He or she can provide you the tools needed to successfully let go of the habit.
4. Figure out how you’re going to quit.
Ask your doctor what smoking cessation strategy is most suitable for you. Check if taking medications will do the job. Most of the time, it does. There are many other ways to quit. These include cutting down gradually, quitting cold turkey, undergoing counseling, etc.
5. List down your smoking triggers.
You need to be aware who your enemies are. This is very, very important if you want to avoid going through a relapse. Asses your smoking habits and list down all the things (emotions, time, feelings, and so on) that trigger you to light up. Is it stress? Is it your morning coffee? When you know what they are, you can definitely avoid them.
Quit smoking not because others want you to. Quit because you are concerned about yourself and about the people who love you. And with these simple steps, you can get yourself ready to drop the habit and succeed.
