Smoking is a habit that is so hard to give up, especially if you have been doing it for countless years. You know how bad smoking is for your health however and the best place for those cigarettes is definitely in the trash. As a smoker, when a craving hits however, it’s very hard to say no. Below you can find some foolproof tips and tricks for giving up smoking for good.
Distraction is key
You know the times that you are most likely to smoke, so you need to be distracting yourself as much as possible particularly during these times. Do you prefer a cigarette first thing in the morning? Before a meal or maybe late at night? Try distraction techniques regularly and see what works best for you. There is a distraction technique that might sound a little odd but it has been tried and tested many times and is proven to be effective. Hold a straw exactly the same way that you would a cigarette and even pretend to inhale from it. This can trick your brain and also keeps your hands busy. For people who have given up smoking, knowing what to do with their hands is shown to be a particular problem which is why this can work so well.
Get your body moving
Stress is the reason why many people crave that nicotine rush but there are much better ways to deal with stress, a method that is actually beneficial for your body is exercise. Exercise actually releases the same endorphins that make you “feel good” that smoking do. Working out will give you the same feelings plus many of the health advantages associates with exercise. You do not have to do anything particularly strenuous to release these happy endorphins, it can be something as something as a brisk walk around the neighborhood or maybe a dance class with friends.
Ween yourself off slowly
As you probably know, nicotine is highly addictive and it’s going to be almost impossible to quit by going cold turkey. You need to slowly get yourself off the habit, which could mean cutting down by a certain amount of cigarettes every day. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is recommended by almost every professional in regards to kicking the habit. This basically means using a method to replace smoking and help you get over the addiction. This could in the form of nicotine patches, tablets or nasal/mouth spray. While this will help you mentally, using NRT also apparently reduces the risk of side effects relating to weening yourself off nicotine including headaches, mood swings and insomnia.
Keep busy
If you don’t do very much in your day-to-day life, your thoughts are going to be consumed with smoking. It’s vital that you keep yourself busy when you are trying to quit and this doesn’t mean sitting in front of the TV. When bored or stressed, it’s very likely that you will slip into old habits. Do something that gets you out of the house and clears your mind. This could be something as simple as walking the dog or a hobby that gets you socialising like a sport or even heading down your local bingo hall.
Try and relax
It is so important that you stay as relaxed as you possibly can. This is not only important in the process of quitting but also staying off the cigarettes. There are many things that you could introduce into your life in order to relax your mind. Meditation and yoga are two great places to start. Even if you’ve never even considered these, what is the harm in trying? Deal with the things in your life that are causing you stress, this doesn’t only solve the problem at hand but it will also make you not consider smoking as a solution.
Conclusion
You need to be mentally prepared for giving up smoking because it is really difficult to do. It has to be something that you really want and you also need to want it for the right reasons. Practice the tips that have been mentioned, have a whole lot of determination and you will be well on your way to success and a healthier life. It’s time to stop with the excuses and start today!