30 Ways to Quit Smoking

In spite of all the intense efforts done by the US government in warning people about the harmful effects of smoking, majority of smokers are still having a difficult time kicking their habit.  This isn’t to say that these smokers aren’t aware of the harmful effects of smoking and there are ways to quit smoking. Smokers do understand that smoking increases many health risks such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure. In addition, smokers also understand that smoking not also costs lives, it also costs huge amount of money.

Why Is Smoking Hard to Quit?

There is sound explanation why there are still millions of people who smoke. The nicotine substance found in cigarettes is highly addictive as it provides a temporary high. When one tries to quit smoking, the nicotine will make one’s body get cravings and withdrawal symptoms physically. Furthermore, smoking gives psychological comfort to smokers.

Many businesses and researchers have acknowledged the fact that to quit smoking itself is hard. So many systems and programs have been formulated on ways to quit smoking; yet, the research still manifests the advantages of quitting, and the disadvantages of not quitting.

How To Quit Smoking

As smoker, you will always find it hard to kick the bad habit, unless you are really determined to do so. There are ways to quit smoking that really works; all you will need is to recognize which of the methods will work for you and which won’t work.

*Create a straightforward record of the things you like so much about smoking. The Clinical Psychiatric Research Center director, Daniel Z. Lieberman, M.D. suggests that one must draw a line in the center  of a piece of paper and start writing things that you like and dislike in smoking.

*After you have created your record or list, you must set a date as to when you would want to end your quitting program. This gives you enough time to complete your mission.

*On an index card, jot down all your reasons why you want to quit and make sure that it’s within reach at all times.

*As you prepare yourself to quit smoking, you will also need to stop buying cartons of smoke. Just buy one pack at a time as this will help gradually deprive you down to fewer smokes.

*Maintain a record of what you were doing at the time when you smoke and how grave your craving was, suggests Gaylene Mooney of the American Association for Respiratory Care’s Subcommittee on Smoking and Tobacco-Related Issues. This is to identify which activity or time of day you usually get the craving.

*List down of the things you would do once your craving hits. Some things you might want to consider are the following: cleaning the house, chew a gum, get a cup of tea or coffee, take a walk or brush your teeth. Make sure to bring the list with you at all times so when craving kicks in, you can quickly pick one of the things and do it.