Everybody knows that smoking is injurious to health. If you’re a smoker, then you probably know that better than anybody else. But just because you know all about the risks involved with smoking doesn’t make the quitting process any easier.
Please nod if you agree. So I decided to list down the five best ways to help you quit smoking.
Nicotine does an excellent job at boosting your outlook, relieving stress, and unwinding. So what does this mean? It means that when you kick the butt, you might have to deal with two challenges.
The first one is coping with the withdrawal symptoms of nicotine. And the second task is to find a healthier way to handle mood changes.
And do you know the most efficient way of achieving this goal? It’s called physical exercise. That’s the best way to quit smoking naturally. And it’s my #1 point listed below. There are four more on the list. So let’s begin, shall we?
5 Best Ways to Help You Quit Smoking
#1 Get Physical
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When it comes to finding a distraction from tobacco cravings, there’s nothing better than physical activity. Exercise goes a long way in reducing the intensity of all types of desires.
And you don’t need to hit the gym for that, although that’s an even better option. But you can just as easily run up and down your house or building’s stairs. Every time you get that craving to smoke, get to those stairs.
You can also go for a jog or walk outside. These are the things that you can do when you’re bored as well.
When at the office, try doing push ups, squats, knee bends or running in your place. Many people who are not so fond of physical exercise opt for other activities that they like to perform.
These include prayer, woodwork, journaling, or needlework. Chores like filing paperwork or vacuuming also help a great deal.
#2 Nicotine Replacement
Most smokers don’t need to read any more “five best ways to help you quit smoking” articles once they opt for nicotine therapy. This involves the use of nicotine lozenges or the nicotine patch.
These kinds of products lower the level of nicotine entering your body. As a result of which you reduce the intake of nicotine each day. And this leads to getting rid of both nicotine as well as the nicotine replacements.
If you want to know how to quit smoking cigarettes fast, then you should realize that it’s a difficult task to achieve. The best way to go about it is to take one step at a time.
With nicotine replacement therapy, you might still experience the impact of nicotine. But you will not feel the negative influence of a cigarette. So this method is not considered to be the safest, but it has proven to work for a large population of smokers.
#3 Cold Turkey
Have you heard about a herb grinder? Smoking roll-up cigarettes is as harmful as smoking manufactured ones. So you will be quite surprised to know that most smokers who have quit smoking have done so by going cold turkey. It’s shocking, isn’t it?
The only reason why you think that such a method doesn’t work is because you’ve never given it an honest try. You have to decide, for real, that you will never touch a cigarette again. Once you get yourself to do that, you can make good on your promise.
The American Cancer Society has found out that over 80% of smokers who want to quit smoking achieve that goal with the cold turkey technique. Now, this doesn’t mean that you decide to stop and everything works out in your favor.
We don’t live in a perfect world. You need to have a plan and tons of support from the people around you.
So the friends and family members you surround yourself with play a significant role during this process. They need to constantly remind you why quitting was the best decision of your life. At the same time, you need to work on your willpower.
#4 Trigger Avoidance
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Trigger avoidance is the most useful point out of the five best ways to help you quit smoking. It’s because every smoker can relate to most nicotine triggers.
The most important one is stress, right? Other triggers include a particular time, place, or activity. For example, your daily lunch break at work or the time when you’re talking on your phone.
When you quit, you find that such triggers tend to become more powerful. It means they have the ability to create stronger cravings. So the best way to deal with them is to avoid them altogether.
Stay away from situations and even people that remind you that you need to smoke a cigarette.
Make it a point to finish your lunch quickly and head straight to your desk for work. Don’t take that detour! Likewise, if you’re likely to smoke while talking on your phone, then replace the cigarette with a pen. You can always scribble while talking, can’t you?
And whatever you do, don’t forget that the benefits of quitting the habit are just like the benefits of other physical activities. Keeping away from cigarettes gives you a healthier body and happier life.
#5 Take It Slow
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This is one of the best “how to quit smoking tips” anyone can ever give you. Cut back on those cigarettes first. That seems like a more achievable goal, doesn’t it?
You cut back until your brain and body no longer require nicotine anymore.
Tell me something here; what do you do when you want to buy the best high-quality car speaker? You look at different types of speakers, weigh one model against the other, test the shortlisted speakers, and then make your final decision.
Am I right? This means you take your time, don’t you?
So why does it have to be any different when it comes to smoking or getting rid of any other unhealthy habit? Such a method is more suitable for heavy or chain smokers. Reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke daily, then weekly.
It’s a gradual process, so there’s no point in trying to rush through it. From one pack every day, you can move on to one pack every week. This way you’re giving your body enough time to stay without nicotine. And that goes a long way in reducing cravings.
So don’t you think that these are the five best ways to help you quit smoking?
Here’s a video that shows how nicotine addiction works:
Final Thoughts
Before I sign off, I would like to share a major point here. During the whole process, you need to keep reminding yourself why you quit. Either write down the benefits or repeat them out loud to yourself. The most obvious benefits of kicking the butt are:
- Getting healthy.
- Feeling better.
- Saving money, lots of it.
- Sparing the life of the people around you from passive smoke.
I know that these five best ways to help you quit smoking are not easy. But always remember that trying to do something about it is always a better option than doing absolutely nothing.
Every craving that you get through successfully brings you closer to achieving that goal.
So what is it going to be; harder efforts or a laidback attitude? Please don’t hesitate to share your stories with us below. The comments section is right there, so you can leave your honest feedback.
I hope you found the content useful and to your liking. Thank you for reading the article. The mere fact that you got yourself to complete the whole article goes to show how dedicated you are towards quitting the habit. Bravo!
You can find much more information on living a holistic lifestyle in these free magazines and on our YouTube channel.
About the author:
Christian Olsen, the founder of SBestReviews, is a compassionate writer who loves to talk about the real problems of life. He understands what it’s like to deal with everyday challenges.
And his work reflects that side of him that wants to make the world a better place. When he’s not writing about such topics, he’s busy reviewing useful products that people use on a daily basis.
References:
- https://quitsmokingcommunity.org/what-is-the-most-effective-way-to-quit-smoking/
- http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/quit-smoking/in-depth/nicotine-craving/art-20045454?pg=1
- http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/smoking/Pages/Motivateyourself.aspx
