If you're a 15-year-old boy, cigarette smoking may have been a rite of passage that showed you were becoming an adult. Maybe it was the result of peer pressure. Or maybe you needed a way to relieve stress. Regardless of why you started smoking, you can stop.
Consequences
From bad breath to less energy for sports and other fun activities, to pale skin and yellow teeth, to the potential for dangerous and deadly diseases, the consequences of smoking are many. By thinking of what smoking does to your health and life expectancy, you can prepare yourself to stop. Also consider positive consequences of quitting. According to the American Heart Association, your ability to taste and smell improves within 48 hours of stopping, your breathing improves between 2 and 12 weeks after quitting and you reap numerous other benefits as well.
Informing Friends
Once you decide to quit, let others know your goal. This way your family and friends can support you in your quest for improved and prolonged health. They will also know not to offer you any cigarettes. If your friends are responsible for your bad habit and don't support your decision to quit smoking, you may have to distance yourself from your old friends and find some new ones who don't smoke. It won't be easy, but it is necessary if you're going to stop smoking.
No More Paraphernalia
Smoking paraphernalia is all the stuff you use to smoke. If you're sitting in your room and see your old lighter, you may have an urge to smoke a cigarette. Doing this could set you back significantly in your quest for a smoke-free life. Since you won't need any of your smoking paraphernalia any longer, you should throw it away. This includes cigarettes, lighters, matches, ashtrays, rolling paper and loose tobacco. Also wash the smell of smoke out of your clothing.
Replace Nicotine
Nicotine is a very addictive substance that causes you to crave cigarettes. The American Heart Association states that "Nicotine addiction has historically been one of the hardest addictions to replace." To successfully quit smoking, you may not be able to stop cold turkey. You may have to wean yourself from nicotine. A few ways to do this include nicotine patches, nicotine gum, nasal sprays or medications. If you have problems controlling your nicotine addiction, speak with your physician to determine the best option.
Temptation
Certain situations trigger the need for cigarettes. If you normally smoke at certain places or in certain situations, avoid these locations and people until you have kicked the habit for good. If you have a constant need to be doing something with your fingers and mouth, keep some suckers, carrot sticks, sugar free gum or mints on hand to chew on when the urge to smoke hits.
Be Strong
Hard as you try, your first attempt at quitting may not be a success, but don't give up. Recognize the success you've had, determine what made you give in, and get back on your road to quitting again. When you hit milestones such as stopping for a week, a month or a year, give yourself a reward like a pair of new shoes, a new CD, or tickets to watch your favorite team. These rewards will help you want to stay smoke-free for the long haul.
