Things You'll Need:
- Motivation
- A plan
- Support
- Diversion Ideas
-
Step 1
Motivation - Motivation - Motivation
You must first understand that you have decided to increase the quality of your life for the long term. This simple truth will, in most cases, continue your motivation to get you started.
Moving towards the day of quitting this one time friend and companion, you should add up as best you can all of the benefits you will soon reap. This includes the increased probability that you will avoid a sad, painful, and costly demise.
Every person is different and has there own little "works" and "don't works".
If you find the motivation in knowing you are saving your family tons of heartache by not having to go through watching you go through treatment for cancer, emphysema, or some other smoke related ailment, use that.
If you find motivation by weighing in how much money you will save in just 1 year, use it. (Depending on which state you live in, up to a grand or more)
The trick here is to pay attention to you. What works and drives you towards the result of smoke free!
Some Motivation Ideas:
- Extended Life
- Healthier Life
- Improvement of Hygiene and Smell
- Lower medical bills over time
- The taste of food comes back
- Smells not smelled in years are back
- More money in your pocket every month
- Bragging rights that you kicked it..... It is an accomplishment -
Step 2
Create your plan -
If you haven't already set a date, do it.
If you have a doctor you should ask him/her if there is any advise or stop smoking aide that he/she might suggest for a person in your position.
Remember, every person is different and not one thing will work for everyone. You may wear the patch for several months before being completely free from nicotine. Nicotine patches, inhalers, nicotine gum, regular gum, cold turkey, it all depends on you. You may very possibly try ever single one before landing on the remedy that fits you best.
Secret sauce = DON'T QUIT QUITTING -
Step 3
Gather your support -
Smoking cigarettes, pipes, or cigars are like many other drugs used over time, they cause mental and physical addictions. It is hard to quit them. Having the support of your friends and family increases the chances of you quitting successfully.
Support Ideas:
Internet Forums
Support Groups
Counseling
Telling your friends and family that you are quitting and that their support is crucial to your success will generally result in a positive and strong outcome. -
Step 4
Diversion Tactics and Avoidance:
Every person addicted to smoking that is or has gone through the quitting process will tell you that there are moments of weakness. The addiction or habit you have formed pulls at you and sometimes at what seems like the worst time. In your initial plan to quit you should plan on these moments and ways to avoid losing the fight. Put the odds in your favor -
Avoid Triggers that cause you to want to smoke. Be aware that there will be some triggers you cannot not avoid, but you may place diversions that pull your attention away from wanting to smoke.
Possible Triggers to Avoid:
Alcohol
Situations where your around smoking (Smoke breaks, bars, etc...)
Possible Triggers to assign diversions to:
Driving
Morning Coffee
After a meal
Breaks at work
Boredom
Diversions:
Cleaning
Gum
Exercise
Call someone - possibly someone who can talk you through the craving
Listen to Music
