Your decision to quit smoking has many benefits. Keep those benefits in mind, and use information like what is contained in the following article to help you through the tough spots. Use these tips whenever you need to until you finally succeed in quitting for good.
Don’t try to do it on your own. Seek encouragement from friends and family – let them know you are trying to quit, and allow them to help you. Think about joining a support group in your area. Meeting other people who want to quit will help you stay motivated and you will be able to share tips.
Set a series of intermediate goals as part of your program to stop smoking. As you achieve each goal, reward yourself. For example, when you haven’t smoked for a week, go out to the movies. When you make it a whole month without smoking, dine out at a restaurant you really enjoy. After that, continue to reward yourself once in awhile until smoking is no longer on your mind at all.
Motivation and a positive attitude are key points when you are trying to stop smoking. Visualize the improvements you’ll experience in your quality of life once you’re a non-smoker. Quitting smoking can improve your smell, you teeth, and eliminate the odors from your home and car. Although knowing the negative aspects of smoking can scare some people into quitting, thinking about positive changes can be beneficial as well.
Clean your house, as thoroughly as possible, once you quit smoking. Shampoo your carpets and upholstery, wash your walls and launder your drapes or curtains. Instead of smelling smoke when you come home, you’ll smell clean, fresh fragrances. This will reduce the temptation to smoke.
Create a reward system for yourself ahead of time. Treat yourself to something nice every time you reach your preset goals. Write a list of gifts to give yourself for reaching every milestone. Make sure you can see that list every single day. Seeing your future rewards may give you that extra bit of motivation you need when you are feeling weak.
Plan how you can deal with those stressful times. Your smoking life was filled with reacting to stress by lighting a cigarette. If you develop an alternate plan, however, you will be better able to avoid smoking. Having multiple plans in place is ideal, in case one plan does not work out.
Think about the places where you used to regularly have a cigarette, and then avoid them. If you had morning coffee and a cigarette or went to happy hour and smoked, change your routine. Having your coffee at work, or avoiding places where smokers congregate, will help you avoid activities that used to be associated with smoking.
Always say, “No!” to even one puff. While a quick puff during those intense cravings may not seem like a terrible idea, it can disrupt your entire strategy and set you back a long time. Tell yourself the dangers that taking that one puff can do. This may stop you in your tracks and make it possible to fight off the craving.
You are likely aware of the many benefits quitting smoking will provide you. However, benefits alone will not compel most people to quit smoking. Apply this information when you need to beat a craving or motivate yourself to stay on course. Soon you will see a great improvement in your life once you no longer smoke.
