Smoking is regarded medically as an habit that is particularly injurious to ones health, on top of this is the fact that it is also very addictive in nature; this explains the reason why it is not an easy task to carry out when it comes to quitting smoking. However, for those desirous of achieving this goal, it is the resilience and self-determination that matter most. Below are some pragmatic tips that can assist with quitting smoking.
Decide on a Specific Quit Date
For some people, choosing a particular date to quit is helpful when no or low stress is anticipated for at least the first three days afterward. If smokers lose their nerve on the chosen day, they must not get discouraged but should simply choose another one as soon as possible.
Decide on a Specific Quit Date
For some people, choosing a particular date to quit is helpful when no or low stress is anticipated for at least the first three days afterward. If smokers lose their nerve on the chosen day, they must not get discouraged but should simply choose another one as soon as possible.
Let the Body and Mind Heal during Withdrawal
Retreat from the world when cravings become overwhelming: take naps, warm baths or showers, meditate, read novels.
Assist the body in getting rid of nicotine. Drink plenty of water, eat fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fiber-rich foods. Carrots, apples, and celery are good munching foods.
When cravings occur, hold your breath as long as possible or take a few deep rhythmic breaths.
Use meditation or relaxation and deep breathing exercises. In fact, taking deep breaths when the urge to smoke occurs is a good stop gap measure.
Retreat from the world when cravings become overwhelming: take naps, warm baths or showers, meditate, read novels.
Assist the body in getting rid of nicotine. Drink plenty of water, eat fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fiber-rich foods. Carrots, apples, and celery are good munching foods.
When cravings occur, hold your breath as long as possible or take a few deep rhythmic breaths.
Use meditation or relaxation and deep breathing exercises. In fact, taking deep breaths when the urge to smoke occurs is a good stop gap measure.
Get Family and Friends Involved
Tell all your friends and family that you’ve already quit, so you’ll be embarrassed if they catch you smoking. Pay a family member or friend if they catch you smoking. The amount should be large enough to be a deterrent, but not too large as to be ridiculous. If your partner smokes, try and persuade him or her to quit or at the very least not to smoke around you and others.
Tell all your friends and family that you’ve already quit, so you’ll be embarrassed if they catch you smoking. Pay a family member or friend if they catch you smoking. The amount should be large enough to be a deterrent, but not too large as to be ridiculous. If your partner smokes, try and persuade him or her to quit or at the very least not to smoke around you and others.
Exercise
An enjoyable exercise program is a great asset. Studies continue to show that smokers who exercise, vigorously if possible, can greatly increase their ability to quit smoking, while reducing their risk for weight gain. Move the muscles when craving occurs. Dance, run, walk, jump up and down, stretch, do push-ups. Yoga is an excellent exercise program for quitting.
An enjoyable exercise program is a great asset. Studies continue to show that smokers who exercise, vigorously if possible, can greatly increase their ability to quit smoking, while reducing their risk for weight gain. Move the muscles when craving occurs. Dance, run, walk, jump up and down, stretch, do push-ups. Yoga is an excellent exercise program for quitting.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
Eat plenty of fresh, crunchy fruits and vegetables. This is also a useful way of satisfying oral cravings without adding many calories.
Eat plenty of fresh, crunchy fruits and vegetables. This is also a useful way of satisfying oral cravings without adding many calories.
Drink plenty of water and healthy beverages.
Weight gain is a problem in quitting. One study reported that a low-calorie diet during withdrawal and for the first few weeks helped women prevent weight gain and improved abstinence significantly compared to those on a normal diet, even when subjects went off this diet later on.
Weight gain is a problem in quitting. One study reported that a low-calorie diet during withdrawal and for the first few weeks helped women prevent weight gain and improved abstinence significantly compared to those on a normal diet, even when subjects went off this diet later on.
Change Daily Habits
Change the daily schedule as much as possible. Eat at different times or eat many small meals instead of three large ones, sit in a different chair, rearrange the furniture.
Find other ways to close a meal. Play a tape or CD, eat a piece of fruit, get up and make a phone call, or take a walk (a good distraction that burns calories as well).
Substitute oral habits e.g. eat unsweetened, chew sugarless gum, suck on a cinnamon stick. One small research study comparing men who had quit for 10 years with those who failed found that those who substituted other types of oral behavior were more likely to succeed in quitting than those who didn’t. People who simply tried to distract themselves with busy activities were typical of those who relapsed.
Go to public places and restaurants where smoking is prohibited or restricted.
Change the daily schedule as much as possible. Eat at different times or eat many small meals instead of three large ones, sit in a different chair, rearrange the furniture.
Find other ways to close a meal. Play a tape or CD, eat a piece of fruit, get up and make a phone call, or take a walk (a good distraction that burns calories as well).
Substitute oral habits e.g. eat unsweetened, chew sugarless gum, suck on a cinnamon stick. One small research study comparing men who had quit for 10 years with those who failed found that those who substituted other types of oral behavior were more likely to succeed in quitting than those who didn’t. People who simply tried to distract themselves with busy activities were typical of those who relapsed.
Go to public places and restaurants where smoking is prohibited or restricted.
Set short-term quitting goals
Set short-term quitting goals and reward yourself when they are met, or every day put the money normally spent on cigarettes in a jar and buy something pleasurable at the end of a predetermined period of time.
Find activities that focus the hands and mind but are not taxing or fattening: computer games, solitaire, knitting, sewing, whittling, crossword puzzles.
Avoid substituting smoking with heavy drinking of alcohol, caffeine, or other stimulants or mood altering substances.
Set short-term quitting goals and reward yourself when they are met, or every day put the money normally spent on cigarettes in a jar and buy something pleasurable at the end of a predetermined period of time.
Find activities that focus the hands and mind but are not taxing or fattening: computer games, solitaire, knitting, sewing, whittling, crossword puzzles.
Avoid substituting smoking with heavy drinking of alcohol, caffeine, or other stimulants or mood altering substances.
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