10 Effective Ways To Become Smoke Free
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1. Why quit smoking?
So you have come to the decision to quit but do you have enough reason to actually do it? Without the drive and willpower, you do not have chances of quitting. Put down your reasons in black and white and look at it everyday to stay motivated.
2. Decide on time lines
Decide early on the date you will quit. Inform your family and friends. Let your workmates know as well. Having the support of those around you will make a big difference. They can keep you going and make sure you do not fall off the wagon.
3. Take advantage of Nicotine Replacement Therapy or NRT
Now that you have declared you are quitting smoking it might be tempting to go cold turkey. However this could be disastrous as almost everyone relapses without a little medical help. Nicotine is highly addictive and your brain has become totally reliant on it. Without it your body will go into withdrawal. NRT can help you cope with these feelings of frustration, depression and restlessness. Using nicotine patches, gum or lozenges could improve you chances of quitting as much as two-fold.
4. Find a way to deal with the stress
When trying to quit, stress levels will inevitably go up. One reason that people smoke is to reduce stress after all. It may be hard but avoid stress as much as possible. Engaging in relaxing activities and keeping busy such as by taking up exercise like yoga helps.
5. Keep triggers at bay
Some situations will cause serious craving for a cigarette. One of the most common triggers is drinking alcohol as a lot of people tend to smoke as they drink. Keep away from the pub for at least a few weeks after you decide to quit. Coffee is another beverage people tend to drink as they take a puff. Avoid it and replace it with a lot of water and drinks that are free of caffeine like herbal tea and fruit juice.
6.Reward Yourself
One of the things you will notice when you stop smoking on top of all those health benefits is the extra cash you have to hand. In fact why not save all the money you could of spent on cigarettes and place it in a jar. Over time this will be a highly visible reminder of how much your smoking habit cost. Then periodically splash out - you deserve it, buy yourself a special present for your landmark achievement.
7. Keep the weight at bay.
It is hard enough to quit without the fear of gaining weight. Quitting increases the appetite. Keep your weight under control by making the effort to eat wholesome foods while keeping away from those that are high in fat and sugar. Take a lot of vegetables instead of chocolates or other sweet snacks, snack on fruit instead.
8. If you fail the first time
Relapsing after trying to quit the first time is fairly common. It may even happen a number of times. Do not give up or despair but go back and think about what keeps you from succeeding. You will be stronger next time when you are facing the hurdles. Set a new date and recommit to quitting.
9. Join the group
It helps a lot to get all the support possible in order to quit smoking. Ask a health care provider like a doctor or pharmacist to direct you to a support group. They are very effective at helping people to quit. There are also online forums that you can log onto any time you need to get support. You can find others in the same position and you can help each other to stay strong.
10. Last but not least, stay positive
If you stay positive, then you will most likely succeed at quitting forever. Harboring doubts will not help and will bring your willpower down. In the thick of things, urge yourself on. Fight temptation and focus on something else. Believe that you can do it and you will.
So you have come to the decision to quit but do you have enough reason to actually do it? Without the drive and willpower, you do not have chances of quitting. Put down your reasons in black and white and look at it everyday to stay motivated.
2. Decide on time lines
Decide early on the date you will quit. Inform your family and friends. Let your workmates know as well. Having the support of those around you will make a big difference. They can keep you going and make sure you do not fall off the wagon.
3. Take advantage of Nicotine Replacement Therapy or NRT
Now that you have declared you are quitting smoking it might be tempting to go cold turkey. However this could be disastrous as almost everyone relapses without a little medical help. Nicotine is highly addictive and your brain has become totally reliant on it. Without it your body will go into withdrawal. NRT can help you cope with these feelings of frustration, depression and restlessness. Using nicotine patches, gum or lozenges could improve you chances of quitting as much as two-fold.
4. Find a way to deal with the stress
When trying to quit, stress levels will inevitably go up. One reason that people smoke is to reduce stress after all. It may be hard but avoid stress as much as possible. Engaging in relaxing activities and keeping busy such as by taking up exercise like yoga helps.
5. Keep triggers at bay
Some situations will cause serious craving for a cigarette. One of the most common triggers is drinking alcohol as a lot of people tend to smoke as they drink. Keep away from the pub for at least a few weeks after you decide to quit. Coffee is another beverage people tend to drink as they take a puff. Avoid it and replace it with a lot of water and drinks that are free of caffeine like herbal tea and fruit juice.
6.Reward Yourself
One of the things you will notice when you stop smoking on top of all those health benefits is the extra cash you have to hand. In fact why not save all the money you could of spent on cigarettes and place it in a jar. Over time this will be a highly visible reminder of how much your smoking habit cost. Then periodically splash out - you deserve it, buy yourself a special present for your landmark achievement.
7. Keep the weight at bay.
It is hard enough to quit without the fear of gaining weight. Quitting increases the appetite. Keep your weight under control by making the effort to eat wholesome foods while keeping away from those that are high in fat and sugar. Take a lot of vegetables instead of chocolates or other sweet snacks, snack on fruit instead.
8. If you fail the first time
Relapsing after trying to quit the first time is fairly common. It may even happen a number of times. Do not give up or despair but go back and think about what keeps you from succeeding. You will be stronger next time when you are facing the hurdles. Set a new date and recommit to quitting.
9. Join the group
It helps a lot to get all the support possible in order to quit smoking. Ask a health care provider like a doctor or pharmacist to direct you to a support group. They are very effective at helping people to quit. There are also online forums that you can log onto any time you need to get support. You can find others in the same position and you can help each other to stay strong.
10. Last but not least, stay positive
If you stay positive, then you will most likely succeed at quitting forever. Harboring doubts will not help and will bring your willpower down. In the thick of things, urge yourself on. Fight temptation and focus on something else. Believe that you can do it and you will.
About the Author:
For more information on how to quit smoking with the smokefree cigarette then visit my website. For the best deals on nicotine replacement therapy then go to Chemist Direct.
