How to Quit Smoking Cigarettes
Manufactured to be addictive, cigarettes and other tobacco products are often difficult to eliminate from your life once the addiction is established. But, the physical, social and financial reasons to quit are so many in number that few smokers haven't tried to quit at one point or another. It's possible to quit successfully with a few well-supported steps.
- Difficulty:
- Challenging
Instructions
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1
Create a plan and choose a quit date. If you are taking an antidepressant to help you quit, most doctors recommend that you take the medicine for two weeks before quitting.
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2
Tell everyone you know that you are going to quit and on what day. This will give them fair warning if you don't seem yourself right after you quit, and it will encourage you to keep your word.
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3
Gather as much support as you can. Try to convince your spouse or partner or a friend to quit with you. Join a support group online or find one in your area.
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4
Remove all smoking paraphernalia on your quit day. Throw away any leftover cigarettes, ashtrays and lighters.
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5
Keep yourself occupied at all times for the first few days. Go to restaurants where smoking is not allowed, play a sport, work on hobbies. Remember that the cravings will be frequent, but they do not last that long.
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6
Celebrate quitting milestones. Promise yourself something new if you can go two days, a week, a month without smoking. Use the money you would have otherwise spent on cigarettes.
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7
Focus your attention on quitting smoking, not maintaining your weight. Diet before or after you have quit, but not for the first three months. Allow yourself the few extra pounds. They are healthier than the cigarettes.
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