Smoking is an addiction that afflicts many people and leads to major health problems. Even though the dangers of smoking have been established and the popularity of smoking has decreased, it is still nearly impossible for some people to quit. People who smoke can quit by following some simple steps.
Develop A Plan
It is important that you devise a plan prior to quitting, according to Health Guide. The plan should contain your individualized steps to becoming smoke-free and a quit date. Your personalized plan could include a variety of choices. Some possibilities include to quit all at once, to decrease your daily cigarettes over time,to use medications to help you reduce symptoms of withdrawal, utilize support groups, or attend therapy. Also, include in your plan all the reasons you want to quit. The American Cancer Society suggests that you keep your reasons for quitting with you at all times so that you can look back in a time of need.
Inform
The American Cancer Society suggests informing your family, friends, and co-workers about your plan to quit smoking. This way, they will be able to support you in your process. People who know and understand that you are quitting smoking will be able to offer moral and social support to you; examples of this are talking on the phone, visiting over coffee and going on walks together, as suggested by the Mayo Clinic.
Replace It
Smoking is a habit. In order to break your habit you must replace it with new ones. You are used to placing cigarettes in your mouth regularly; therefore you need to have something on hand to replace this habit. Have gum, hard candy, or some other small snack such as sunflower seeds available and handy so that you are able to satisfy this learned behavior with a healthier replacement. Along with replacing the hand-to-mouth habit, you need to come up with replacement activities for all the time you spent smoking. The American Cancer Society suggests you think of all the activities you engaged in when you smoked, then plan ahead and come up with new activities to do with this time in order to ward off temptation and prevent relapse.
Exercise
Include physical activity and exercise. According to the Mayo Clinic, engaging in physical activity for at least 30 minutes can distract you from tobacco cravings and reduce your cravings.
Steer Clear Of Triggers
The Mayo Clinic points out that your desire to smoke will be hardest to fight in places where you have spent much of your time smoking and with certain people you have smoked with. In order to ward off temptation, avoid these places and people. If you must be around them or engage in the activity, do it without access to cigarettes.
