Whether you are only a few months in smoking or you have been smoking for half your life; quitting smoking is tough. When you make the decision to quit, you are one step closer to breaking the addiction and reclaiming your body from the adverse effects that come with long term smoking. The next task is choosing the right quit-smoking method. There are several approaches to quitting and each works differently for different people. With the right information, you can adequately prepare for the process and be able to successfully kick the habit.
- Have a Plan
Having a plan helps to keep on track with regards to when you want to quit and addressing both short and long term challenges of quitting. The plan also addresses what should be done to prevent relapsing and it should be custom specific to your smoking habits and needs. This will help you look more into quitting smoking and do a little research to identify what will work for you. Your plan should also involve telling family, friends and co-workers that you have made the decision to quit smoking. You should also plan ahead to dispose off of all your cigarettes and tobacco related products at home, in your car and at work. It is also important to see a physician and talk about getting help quitting.
- Use Smoking Cessation Aids
Although quitting ‘cold turkey’ this is the most popular method of quitting it rarely works. Only about 3 to 10% of smokers who attempt to quit cold turkey are successful. Naturally everyone wants to stop smoking immediately and without much trouble failing to factor in mind the power of nicotine dependence. Using cessation aids will help you transition slowly from nicotine dependence There are several smoking cessation aids including nicotine patches, gum, lozenges and inhaler. Some of these cessation aids such as the inhaler are only available through prescription meaning that a consultation with a physician is necessary.
- Keep a Journal
If you are ready to quit smoking for good it pays off to do it the right way, to avoid relapsing and to kick the habit successfully.
It is wise to start a “craving journal” to help you get a clear picture of your crave patterns as well as triggers. You can start the journal about a week before your quit date and keep log of every time you smoke, noting the time of day and what you were doing and your general mood moments before smoking. The smoking logs should also indicate the intensity of the craving, the people you were with and how you felt after smoking.
- Avoid Alcohol, Other Smokers and Common Activities Which Trigger Cravings
This might be another difficult task yet, but it will greatly increase your chances of quitting successfully. This does not mean avoiding family or ditching friends who smoke, you can simply make a new group of non-smoking friends to hang out with during parties or at work to skip on smoking breaks. Alcohol and smoking go hand and in hand and when you switch to non-alcoholic drinks you will be able to keep a clear mind and avoid smoking. Replace after meal smokes with healthy desserts or gum.
If you are ready to quit smoking for good it pays off to do it the right way, to avoid relapsing and to kick the habit successfully.
