Proven Ways to Break the Smoking Habit

There is no doubt that smoking is bad for your health. Damaging the lungs and shortening your life span, your family may be pleading with you to kick the habit. Unfortunately, giving up nicotine can be next to impossible. While some people can put the pack down and ever touch a cigarette again, most people will attempt to break the habit several times before they are successful. Here are some proven methods you can use for putting down your last pack of cigarettes.

Prepare Yourself Mentally

If you are one of those people who needs help quitting, then you need to take time to prepare yourself for this life change emotionally. Plan it, prepare for it and then embrace it. Give yourself a solid date on the calendar when you will quit, and then spend the next few weeks preparing yourself for it emotionally. You can even give yourself a jump start by making sure you switch to a balanced diet, drink plenty of water and get enough sleep. Being in good health physically will make it easier for you to handle the stress of quitting when the time comes.

Find Another Stress Reliever

Many smokers light up their cigarettes to help them relieve stress. If you turn to tobacco when you are dealing with difficult feelings, then quitting the habit may be harder for you. Start by developing other methods of coping with those uncomfortable feelings. Take up a new hobby, learn sensory relaxation techniques or start a good exercise routine. When you have a way to deal with the rough emotions, you will be more likely to succeed the next time you try to quit.

Identify Your Triggers and Find Replacements

If stress and emotions arenâ??t what prompt you to smoke then you should take the time to determine what does. If you can identify a habit, then you can try to find an alternative. If you smoke when youâ??re bored, then you could make sure you stay busy during the quitting period. If you light up when youâ??re around friends, then you can enlist your friends to help you quit. Determine what kind of smoker you are, and you will be more successful the next time you try to quit.

Remove Temptation at Once

You will have weak moments when youâ??re trying to quit. There will be times when you can clearly remember the taste of a cigarette and nothing will seem sweeter and more amazing. You are far more likely to fall off the wagon if you have left a partial pack of cigarettes in the glove box or your purse. When your deadline arrives on the calendar, make sure your home, car and office are completely free of cigarettes.

Remind Yourself of the Long-Term Benefits

It will help you to remember the long-term benefits of evicting cigarettes from your life. Your clothes and hair will smell better, and you will not get winded as quickly. Not only will your health improve for the long-term, but you will also enjoy immediate health benefits. If you arenâ??t motivated by your personal health, then consider how much money you will save by kicking the habit. Start a quitting jar. Every time you feel the urge to go buy cigarettes, drop that cash in the jar instead. By the time youâ??ve kicked the habit, you could have enough money in the jar for a nice dinner out or even that hot new electronic gadget.

Like any addictive habit, you will probably fall off the wagon a few times. The important thing is that you donâ??t give up. If you are out with friends and bum a cigarette, donâ??t decide that all is lost and buy an entire pack. Accept that you strayed from the path and get back on track as soon as possible. Anything worth achieving will require some work, and the benefits of living a smoke-free life are definitely worth your hard work.

Guest author Kevin Wiseman is a freelance blogger writing on behalf of Edrugstore.MD a site where you can order medications online. For more information you can read an edrugstore review.