Five Tips To Help You Quit Smoking

If you have made the decision to stop smoking, good for you. I know that it is a difficult decision and sometimes takes quite a while to make, and to really be serious about going through with it!

Since you have made the decision to quit, it is important that you are prepared. This should include having a list of things to do if and when you get the urge to smoke. If you smoke and have smoked for years, you are addicted to smoking both physically and psychologically. The nicotine in cigarettes is physically addictive. The process of smoking is psychologically addictive. That is why you need to be prepared.

I have made a list of five things or “tips” of what to do if you get the urge to smoke; however, your list may be shorter or longer than five . I would suggest longer so that you have several to choose from.

1) Make a list of all of the reasons that you are quitting. These can include physical reasons such as increased chance of lung, bladder, pancreatic, mouth and other cancers. You can also list your own personal reasons such as: bad breath, cigarette smelling clothes, stained teeth, difficulty breathing etc. Put this list on a small card to carry with you. Pull it out and look at it should the urge to smoke hit you!

2) Carry hard candy, gum, to put in your mouth in case of a craving.

3) Put cigarette money in a jar rather than buying cigarettes. This will give you an idea of how much you are saving now that you are not smoking!

4) Be prepared to do something different during your cigarette break at work, such as read, do a crossword puzzle, get a drink such as tea etc. , knit, crochet, anything you can do with your hands. At home, take a shower, go for a walk, have sex with your spouse or partner, do a chore, etc. whatever you can do to avoid smoking.

5) Get ideas from a counselor, online or buy a stress reduction book to learn additional stress reduction techniques. You can learn yoga, dance, etc by taking a class, also have numbers of people you can call if you are feeling a strong urge to smoke. You have used cigarettes in the past to cope, the idea is now that you learn other ways to cope without them., like talk to people instead.

One thing that is very important is that should you relapse, start over! Don’t look at a relapse as a “failure” see it rather as a “do over.” Sometimes it takes several times to actually quit for good. It is not easy., so give yourself a break. Take extra care of yourself even pamper yourself. You deserve it because you are doing something that is nice for your body!

Now you have at least five things to do should you get the urge to smoke while quitting. Add to it and personalize it for a better chance. Good luck!

Article Source: http://www.streetarticles.com/quit-smoking/five-tips-to-help-you-quit-smoking

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