Tips For Finally Kicking The Smoking Habit
Nobody disputes the harm to health an well-being posed by the smoking of tobacco products. The evidence is clear. If the time has come for you to rid yourself of this very damaging habit, the following article can help. Take the tips and advice contained herein, and get started on living a healthier life right away.
When you first resolve to quit smoking, it is worth spending the time it takes to develop a concrete plan to help guide you along the way. Because the process of quitting is often quite challenging, it pays to formulate some incremental steps to make the task feel more manageable. Fortunately, there are lots of resoures available both online and in books that can get you started.
In advance of your quitting start date, take the time to keep something of a journal that chronicles the time and conditions under which you typically smoke cigarettes. Perhaps you tend to smoke primarily after eating meals. If so, write that down. Maybe you smoke primarily when socializing with friends or indulging in an alcoholic beverage or two. No matter when the urge hits, making note of the whens and whys of your smoking will help you be more aware of your smoking triggers and give you a better chance of avoiding them as you work to quit.
Once you have a clear notion of when you generally tend to smoke, work on developing alternative activities that will help keep your mind off of the idea of lighting up. If you like to smoke after eating, consider taking a leisurely stroll for those ten minutes instead. If you often smoke while hanging out with friends, perhaps you could eat a lollipop instead as a means to keep your mouth busy. The key is to have a plan at the ready so that you are prepared to occupy yourself in a healthy way during those everyday moments that would normally call for a cigarette.
Hydration can be a great tool for anyone embarking on a plan to quit smoking. Carrying a bottle of water along with you at all times is a good way to keep your hands and mouth busy when cravings hit. Flushing your system with fresh water will also boost your feeling of overall health, which may increase your commitment to ushering the unhealthy habit of smoking out of your life for good. Drinking lots of water can also help you feel full, thus staving off the overeating that all too often accompanies smoking cessation efforts.
Finally, as you continue with your attempts to quit smoking, it is important to realize that slip-ups and backsliding is bound to occur, at least on occasion. Smoking is a very powerful vice that most people find extremely difficult to kick. Therefore, do not view yourself as a failure if you succumb to the temptation and have a cigarette. It may take multiple tries before you finally quit, so do not beat yourself up. Rather, reinforce your commitment to health and keep working.
Smoking is something that anyone contending with the habit really should endeavor to stop as soon as possible. If you are now determined to embark on a smoking cessation program, the article above should prove very useful. By applying the tips you have just read, it will truly be possible to live a smoke-free life. Best of luck as you get your efforts underway!
