When it comes to smoking, the habit that was easy to start quickly becomes a habit that even toughest guys and gals out there can’t kick. It is hard to quit for most people because of the oral and physical addiction. There are even smokers that don’t want to quit because they enjoy it. The sad truth for those people is that it might be too late by the time they feel the effects of smoking and decide to quit. So, if your reading this now you have already taken the first step, your thinking about quitting.
There are many pills, patches, and prayers that you can try. The one method that has worked for many is quitting smoking cold turkey.
1. Quit and Acknowledge:
You need to believe in yourself and also make a mental commitment. We all do better when we have something scheduled. For example, one guy knew he couldn’t make it through his 50th birthday party with out smoking. He made that his final night of smoking. So, pick a final day to smoke and end that day by throwing out the rest of your cigarettes. Even your emergency pack. By doing this you will have made up your mind that without a doubt you’re going to quit. You also need to acknowledge that even though you’ve thrown out your cigarettes your still addicted.
2. Plan ahead:
Now that you’ve thrown the cigarettes away, plan what your going to do in a few hours when your body needs a cigarette? Plan now, so you don’t have to fight the urges. Initially just substitute something for them. After you have made it through the first rush of urges, plan for what you’re going to do for the next one. A lot of people will replace every lighter and ashtray with chewing gum. For a truck driver, you might smoke when you drive, so if your going to replace cigarettes with gum, buy a lot of gum and put it all over your truck.
3. Let people know your trying to quit.
Your addicted so any temptation will be hard to ignore. Let people know. This will help them, help you. Now that friend who always had time to smoke with you will stop asking.
4. Change what you did before.
This is probably the single most important factor in quitting. If you used to start each morning with a coffee and a cigarette, you need to start tomorrow with orange Juice and a granola bar. The point is to switch it up. As with any other addiction that people suffer from, certain places and routines are also part of the addiction. Even smells. If you can ditch the morning coffee you will be less likely to think about the cigarette in the morning. Some people also find it easier to avoid certain social settings all together in order to quit. Remember, as you get further down the road the temptations will take place less frequently, so if your skipping poker night for a few weeks, down the road you’ll be able to go smoke free.
That’s the long and the short of it. If you falter just try again. If you can execute each of the 4 points above you’ll have a plan, an understanding of what you can do to fight the urges, and you will have a way to impact the addiction with alternatives. We wish you the best of luck, and just remember, you can do it!
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