How to Quit Smoking?

In my previous article, we did discuss the bad effects of smoking, and a few natural remedies that can help you to quit smoking permanently. Well, this article, although entitles the same topic but, here we will not repeat the same old natural remedies to quit smoking. Instead, we will discuss a few ways that can help you out with cutting the urge to smoke and encourage quitting smoking effectively and permanently. 

Bad Effects of Smoking on your Health:

Before moving forward let’s discuss a few harmful effects of smoking on your overall health.

• Mood stimulation.
• Poor vision.
• Appetite suppressant.
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Coughing
• COPD, i.e. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• Cold, cough, and flu.
• Lung cancer.
• Bronchitis
• Constricted blood vessels.
• Blood cancer.
• High cholesterol.
• Blood clotting.
• Heart disease.
• Pale and yellow fingernails.
• Early aging.
• Stained teeth.
• Bad breath.
• Mouth cancer.
• Diabetes complications.
• Erectile dysfunction.
• Infertility
• Cervical cancer.
• Early menopause.
• Pregnancy complications.

For all those new readers who have just discovered our website, or in any case, have not gone through the previous article on smoking, it is tagged at the bottom of the page for your convenience. It will help you to get rid of the habit of smoking through natural home remedies and also a few alternatives for cigarettes have been mentioned in case you cannot fight the urge to smoke at the initial stage of trying to curb the habit.

Top Ways to Quit Smoking Effectively

1.) Make a List that Encourage/Discourage You Towards Smoking

All you need to do is prepare an honest list of all those things that you like and dislike about smoking. This may include the factors that lead you towards smoking, on the other hand, the dislike list may include the factors that are affected due to your smoking habits, like family, work, relationships, health, etc.

You can also think of the list of preparing and keep on updating it over time. You can also get feedback from your friends or family about the things that they dislike about your smoking habits. This will help you to quit smoking, as when the negative factors overshadow the positive side, this makes you ready to quit smoking willingly, without any pressure.

2.) Prepare a List of Factors that Act as an Obstacle in Your Path

You need to be even more honest while preparing this list. No matter how long and discouraging it gets as the numbers increases. Next to each entry, mention the factors that can be used to cope up with these obstacles and overcome the challenges.

For instance:

• The Obstacle is “Nicotine addictions is not easy to quit”
• Your Options is “Try alternatives for nicotine that are less addictive”

Another instance:

• The Obstacle is “Nicotine helps to deal with stress”
• Your Options is “Talk to a close friend or go for a walk”

The more you anticipate towards quitting smoking by facing the challenges, the chances of being successful increases.

3.) Set a Date

Now, that you have the lists of factors that encourage and discourage smoking and also a list of challenges along with the options to cope up with the urge. The base is now ready; all you need to do is set a date for yourself to quit smoking.

Get your friend to act as a witness and sign a proper contract, with your name, date, and a signature. This will remind you of your commitments.

4.) Note Down the Reasons to Quit Smoking

There are numerous reasons that can lead you to quit smoking. For instance, health issues, family pressure are some of the common reasons that lead you to quit smoking. Every time you get a new reason, just keep on updating the list.

5.) Ditch the Habit of Stocking Cartons of Cigarettes

Instead of buying the whole cartons, get a single pack only. The extra stock will obviously initiate the urge, but if you will have it in lesser quantity, you will consume every piece, thinking twice.

This will also refrain you from running out of stocks during an extreme urge to smoke. Also, less quantity will wean you down to fewer cigarettes than you used to consume normally.

6.) Track Down the Activities that Made You Smoke

While you are still in the league to quit smoking, track down the activities that made you smoke. Maintain an activity chart and do not forget to mention the day and date. This will help to maintain the accuracy. Also, mention the activities that increase your cravings to smoke.

7.) Prepare a list of Activities to do When Smoke Cravings Hit

You need to divert your mind in order to help curb the cravings. This can be done by performing activities that you love or talking to your close friends. This will help your mind divert from the smoke cravings and will slowly reduce the effect.

For an instance, you can either go for a walk, drink a glass of water or other drinks you like, not alcohol. You can also snack on your favorite foods to fight the urge of smoking. A cup of tea or coffee also sounds soothing for your body and mind.

Play your favorite video games, or play with your pet instead. Have sex, it is the best way to divert your mind. Meditation can also work wonders, but sometimes it is difficult to concentrate with a diverted mind. In such cases take a nap, or practice deep breathing yoga sessions.

Maintaining the list helps you to choose from a list of activities that you can perform when an urge to smoke triggers.

8.) Stay in a Good Mood

Always try to stay happy and satisfied with things around you. Depression or tension can act as an obstacle on your path to quitting smoking.

Studies also say that you are a little less likely to be a successful quitter when fighting depression or any kind of intention that stresses your mind.

9.) Get Rid of Everything that Reminds You of Smoking

As you reach near to your quitting date, start getting rid of stuff that can remind you of smoking or can trigger the urge again.

Try to stay calm and do not think of topics that stress your mind or may force you to smoke.

This stuff may include smoking paraphernalia- leftover cigarettes, matchsticks, lighters, ashtray, etc. Simply everything that reminds you of your smoking habit.

It can also be your pillow or the leftover ashes on your side table. Cover the place where you used to sit and smoke. Simply prefer changing your room’s setup.

10.) Save Your Money in a Piggy Bank

This may sound kiddish but, this will actually make you realize that how much money you used to waste on your smoking habits.

Keep on putting the money in your piggy bank every day, as if you are paying for your cigarettes. The amount should also be the same as you used to spend on those cigarette cartons.

Use this money on something that satisfies you to the core. But, do not go and purchase those deadly cartons again or spend on alcohol.

Instead, spend them on poor children, or donate to some cause. If you do not want to use it anyway, then save this money to be used in future or when you are actually in need of money.

11.) Switch to Decaf mode

You love for coffee is to be restricted for a while. This is because too much caffeine can cause jitters or can even trigger the urge to smoke again.

This is only a matter of 2-3 months, after which you can make love with your cup of coffee. But, if you want to be a successful quitter then, you have to be patient for a while.

Instead, you can have smoothies, mojito, lemonade, fruit juices, shakes, etc to curb your fluid cravings.

12.) Think of Those Difficult Tasks that You Have Accomplished in Past

You must have faced situations in your past, that weren’t easy to tackle. But, you did achieve success with hard work and dedication.

Think about all those situations, and this will give you the desired inspiration to tackle this difficult situation as well.

Ask your friends and family to motivate you by sharing their experiences as well. They can also encourage you by talking about the situations that you have gone through and the ways that you used to overcome those situations like a warrior.

This will trigger the self-confidence in you and will also help you to stick to the commitment that you have made to your health.