How to quit smoking today in 5 easy steps
For smokers, cigarettes can be a nuisance; for others, they can be a real evil. Unlike most other vices, smokes are a habit that affect all of us on a daily – whenever you’re near a smoker you are going to feel a strong smell of cigarettes. This makes them a specific vice as you can always tell if a person has been using them. While you can cover up some other substance abuses, cigarettes leave such a strong trail that it is hard to conceal them.
Even though they are somewhat harmless (in comparison to other vices) most smokers do not like the fact they are using this product. This is due to several reasons such as strong smell, the fact they ruins your skin as well as their high prices.
Luckily for you, there are ways you can quit smoking. Instead of simply trying to quit overnight, try implementing these 5 tricks one after another. This step-by-step process will increase your chances of quitting once and forever!
1. Prepare yourself
Like with everything else in life, preparation is crucial. In this case, you need to remove everything that reminds you of cigarettes. In fact, you might even have to be so restrictive and ask your friends/family to quit with you.
Quitting cigarettes is primarily a mental task so make sure you have the right environment to do so.
2. Find ways to leave the apartment
Depending on where you live, smoking is likely forbidden in public. Even if it’s not, it is much easier to smoke indoors especially while sitting on your favorite couch.
Smoking is also a mechanical need: you have to feel cigarettes between your fingers. If you’re at home doing nothing you will likely reach for cigarettes to satisfy your need. Luckily, if you already performed step number one, cigarettes should be much less accessible by now.
When you’re outside, you’re probably doing something else. Even if you’re just walking around, it may interfere with you smoking. Best thing yet is to do light physical exercises. This will definitely deter you from smoking as you will find it hard to do two things at once.
3. Find substitution to smokes
Depending on where you live, smoking is likely forbidden in public. Even if it’s not, it is much easier to smoke indoors especially while sitting on your favorite couch.
Smoking is also a mechanical need: you have to feel cigarettes between your fingers. If you’re at home doing nothing you will likely reach for cigarettes to satisfy your need. Luckily, if you already performed step number one, cigarettes should be much less accessible by now.
When you’re outside, you’re probably doing something else. Even if you’re just walking around, it may interfere with you smoking. Best thing yet is to do light physical exercises. This will definitely deter you from smoking as you will find it hard to do two things at once.
Substitutions can definitely help you quit smoking. Have in mind that they are not bulletproof: there are a lot of people who simply traded their smoking habit for pipes and e-juice based e-cigs but are still enjoying tobacco nonetheless.
Substitutions are a good solution if you tried everything but simply cannot quit 100 %. They are a good method to fulfil your mechanical need as you will still have something akin to regular smokes. It is a good way to trick your body while you’re trying to solve other issues and strengthen your organism.
4. Exercises and diet
As I already said, it is much easier to quit if you’re not stuck at home. Still, you will need to work on your physical shape if you’re serious about tackling this vice.
Cigarettes often leave people dry. Even if you would like to try and perform any kind of athletic activity, it will be very hard for your body. This is result of long-term abuse. Best way to turn things around is to strengthen your body.
Both exercises and proper diet are needed during this step. Not only will they make you more resilient but they will also remind you how good it is to be 100 % healthy and capable. After just few months, you will start breathing easier and this mental incentive will slowly start taking over your mental need to light a cigarette.
5. Limit your visits to a bar
Part of quitting process is eliminating elements that may force you back. This is especially true when it comes to bars, discotheques and other places which are commonly visited by smokers. Even though this is slowly changing, there are a lot of places where smoking is still allowed and is even seen as a positive thing. If you need to go out to a bar or coffee shop, make sure to do it during the day. Always try to stay outside in the fresh air and avoid these places at all costs.
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