You have made your first step towards a tobacco-free life merely by reading this article. Learn ways to successfully stop smoking cigarettes with these tips to quit smoking.
Tobacco cravings or urges to smoke are powerful and undeniable once you’re into it. But since effects of smoking are quite dreadful, these cravings need to be brought under control. When a desire to use tobacco strikes you, bear in mind that although it may be powerful, it will be transitory, and it probably will go by within a few minutes whether or not you take a dip of chewing tobacco or smoke a cigarette. With each time you stand firm against a tobacco craving, you’re one step closer to stop smoking or use of tobacco. But it can be difficult.
Here is a list of tips to quit smoking which will help you in resisting the urge to smoke or use tobacco whenever you’re struck by a craving:
Try nicotine replacement therapy
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is one of the best tips to quit smoking. Your doctor may prescribe nicotine nasal spray, nicotine inhaler, and some stop-smoking medications such as bupropion (Zyban) and varenicline (Chantix). Some other forms of NRT include gum, patches and lozenges which are available over-the-counter (OTC). Continue the use of NRT even if you slip up and have a cigarette during the course of your treatment.
Also Read: Dangerous Health Effects of Smoking
Avoid triggers
Places such as bars or at parties, in the car, or while watching television where you usually smoke or use tobacco, you’re likely to get the strongest urges for tobacco. Spot your trigger situations and build a plan to avoid them completely or get all the way through them without using tobacco. Don’t set yourself up for a smoking relapse. For instance, if you usually smoked while you communicate over on phone, keep a pen and paper close at hand to engage yourself with scribbling instead of smoking.
Delay
If you feel like you can’t resist to your tobacco craving, tell yourself to first wait 10 more minutes and then engage yourself in some or the other activity to divert yourself for that period of time. Repeat it as often as needed.
Chew on it
Keep on chewing something to battle a tobacco craving. Chew on alternatives like sugarless gum or hard candy, or chomp on celery, raw carrots, nuts or sunflower seeds, something that is crunchy and satisfying.
Don’t have ‘just one’
You might be convinced to have just one cigarette to gratify your tobacco craving. But don’t let it fool you. Usually, having just one leads to another and you may end up using tobacco again.
Get physical
Physical activity is an effective way to stop smoking as it significantly reduces the intensity of cravings. Just 30 minutes of moderate physical activity such as walking, jogging, running, pushups, etc. can make a tobacco craving go away.
Practice relaxation techniques
For many people, smoking is a way to deal with stress. Resisting a tobacco craving can itself be stressful. Take the edge off stress by practicing relaxation techniques which include muscle relaxation, deep-breathing exercises, visualization, yoga, hypnosis and massage.
Call for reinforcements
Communicate with a friend, family member or support group member for moral support. You can go for a walk together, chat on the phone, or simply share a few laughs or get together to pity about your cravings.
Go online for support
Join an online stop-smoking program. Or read a quitter’s blog and post encouraging thoughts for someone else who might be struggling with tobacco cravings. Learn from how others have handled their tobacco cravings.
Remind yourself of the benefits
Write down or say out loud the reasons you want to stop smoking and resist tobacco cravings. These might include feeling better, getting healthier, sparing your loved ones from secondhand smoke or saving money.
Also Read: Which Yoga Type Is Best For You?
Conclusion:
Remember, trying something to beat the urge is always better than doing nothing. And each time you resist a tobacco craving, you’re one step closer to being totally tobacco-free. Quitting smoking can add years to your life. Though the earlier the better, it’s never too late to quit. The benefits of quitting are real, even at the age of 80!
