Trying to quit smoking is a very lengthy process. This can take a very long period of time such as several years, or it could be something much shorter like only a few weeks or months. The exact time frame that it takes to quit can vary greatly but what is important is ensuring that you are coming up with a plan to combat your urges to smoke.
At some point in your experience trying to quit you will encounter a situation where the urge to smoke is very strong. How you handle this situation will go a long way towards your ultimate success. Being prepared for the urge to smoke will ensure that you have a plan to keep your willpower strong and continue on your path to quit smoking successfully.
Think about when you normally have a cigarette. Is it after dinner or when you have exercised in the local gym? If you have knowledge about that, it will be easier to fight the urge.
Create a plan of attack. This could be something as simple as a stress ball for your hands, or even just a piece of hard candy to keep your mouth busy. If you really enjoy the taste and feeling of a clean mouth you could try brushing your teeth each time you want to smoke, or suck on a mint flavored candy, which will freshen your breath.
Stay away from all temptations. If you are eating out, find a table in the non smoking area. Never go into a tobacco store and try to limit the time you are together with other smokers. It will be harder to resist the temptation, if you are continuously around smokers and cigarettes.
All smoking instruments must be removed. This is stuff like matches, lighters and ashtrays. Do also get rid of the smell of cigarettes; either by airing the room or using products like Febreeze. The smell of cigarettes can trigger your urge to smoke.
Rearrange your home if you have a place where you normally smoke. It is much easier to resist the temptation if you break your routines. This is especially great if you normally have a habit of smoking at the exact same location like in your favorite chair in front of the television. So try to remove the chair to another part of the room to remove the urge to smoke when you are watching television in the chair.
Write down your goal to quit smoking. This may seem like a minor detail but in reality, it can go a very long way towards ensuring that you keep your priority to quit smoking at the top of your agenda. If you just tell yourself that you want to quit smoking, you are more likely to cheat and ultimately give into the urge to light up again. If you have written your goal down, you are going to be more likely to actually follow it. This goes for quitting smoking, losing weight, changing your exercise routine or anything else. Written down goals can improve accountability significantly.
Do not discount yourself. If you are absolutely certain that you can succeed, you will be much more capable of the success that you need. It is important to believe that you can succeed. This will help you to stay strong anytime a serious urge kicks in. If you decide to slip up consciously, you are going to find it is much harder to gain back any slack that you have cut for yourself. However, if you hold fast to your dedication to quit smoking you will find that each time you have an urge it is easier to handle.
Martin Elmer is writing about quitting your cigarettes and rygestop dag for dag. You can also learn how to minimize your nicotine withdrawal symptoms with nikotin naesespray products.
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