Good Stuff Happens in 1:1 Meetings: Why you need them and how to do them well
Necessary Suggestion You Had to Stop Cigarette smoking Today
1. Necessary Suggestion You Had to Stop Cigarette smoking
Today
You may find yourself making excuses when your loved ones ask you about your smoking habit. You
think you are too old to quit, or you have been smoking for too long to make a difference. Excuses do
nothing but demotivate you, and are often based on myths. Check your excuses at the door and stop
smoking today by following the advice below.
In order to quit smoking successfully, ask for help from the people you see most. Having the support
of family, friends, and co-workers can mean the difference between success and failure. Quitting any
habit is difficult, especially one like smoking that is addictive. Make sure the people around you
cheer you on and do not intentionally thwart your success.
When you commit to quitting smoking, plan out appropriate rewards for every milestone you
achieve. On your one week anniversary you could visit a movie, for example. After a longer period of
time, you can treat yourself to something more expensive or elegant. Continue to give yourself a
reward in increasing amount to acknowledge your progress until you don't think about the urge to
smoke.
To keep yourself motivated to quit smoking, be clear about why you want to quit. While there are
many good reasons to stop smoking, you want to focus on your most powerful, personal reasons.
Every time you feel tempted, remind yourself how much you want to improve your health, save
money or set a good example for your kids.
Take the money that you would usually throw away on your cigarettes and spend it on yourself on
something that you really want. This is sort of like a reward for your hard work. Treat yourself to an
expensive coat, a nice jacket or even that pair of shoes that
http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking/how_to_quit/index.htm you have been eying.
Write down the reasons why you want to quit smoking. Post the list someplace where you'll see it
every day, to help keep you motivated. Include not only the reasons that directly benefit you, but
also the reasons that quitting will benefit your friends and family. Being able to read your list every
day will remind you of why you stopped smoking in the first place.
To effectively quit smoking, have a plan mapped out. Take some time to prepare yourself by writing
down the steps you will take to quit, who you will call for support, and what you will do if you should
slip up. Putting these things in writing makes them concrete, and it is much like making a contract
with yourself. This can have a very powerful affect on your mindset, helping you to stay focused on
your journey toward quitting.
2. It is important to realize that although cold
turkey may work for one person, it may not work
for you. People think that they can stop smoking
on their own and only end up going back because
they tried too much, too fast. You may require an
aid for quitting, such as a nicotine patch.
Workout every day. Exercising after quitting
smoking will be easier, as your lung capacity
immediately starts improving. Increased exercise
will also ensure that you don't gain any weight
after quitting. While exercising, endorphins are
produced, which can help cope with the
symptoms of withdrawal.
Try exercising to replace your smoking habit.
When you exercise, your body releases a lot of endorphins, which in turn, make your mood go up.
Also, when you exercise, your body is distracted from wanting a cigarette. Exercise is beneficial in
another way as well; it can minimize the effects of metabolism changes that happen when you stop
smoking, which can help keep the extra weight gain at bay that people who quit sometimes
experience.
When it's time to stop smoking, write down a list of things that motivate you in wanting to quit.
Check that list every time you have a craving and remember why you quit. It's a highly effective
motivational technique!
Have true faith in the fact that you can stop smoking. You must believe it in order truly quit. You
can't go into it half-heartedly. Consider all the tough things you have accomplished in other aspects
of your life, and use those memories to fuel your full commitment to stopping smoking.
When you make the decision to stop smoking, make sure that you ask your friends and family for
help. Inform everybody who is close about your plan to quit cigarettes for good. You may be
surprised at the amount of encouragement and support you receive, and at how beneficial it may
prove to be. In addition, you might want to think about obtaining behavior therapy or joining a
support group to help you quit.
Know that when you stop smoking you are improving your life, as opposed to making a noble
sacrifice. You will be able to quit smoking sooner and remain smoke-free, if you think positively
about quitting. The benefits are far greater than the temporary difficulties, and it will make a
powerful change in your life. This will keep your motivation up while giving real herbal reason to
stop now.
3. Get up and clean your house if you are trying to stop
smoking. Get all the ashtrays out of the house, and
toss out your lighters, too. Wash your drapes,
upholstery and clothes to free them of the odor of
cigarette smoke. Make sure you use air fresheners in
order to mask any smell that may remain. You want to
remove any smell that will remind you of smoking.
The emotional challenges involved, with quitting
smoking, cannot be overstated. You will be hit by
cravings on a regular basis, and these are not always
easy to fight back against. If you keep a log detailing
your craving episodes, you may be able to pinpoint
situations that bring up the urge to smoke. By
keeping careful records, you may be able to avoid
triggering situations altogether.
Positive thinking makes a big difference when it comes to quitting smoking. You will be able to
better conquer temptations if you recognize every day without smoking, as an achievement in itself.
By keeping track of small goals, you can keep your self-esteem high and hopefully, conquer that
habit for good!
To avoid unnecessary discouragement, tell everyone in your life that you are quitting smoking. This
will prepare those closest to you for the mood swings that often accompany nicotine withdrawal.
This will also alert other smokers that you do not want or need the temptation of them offering you a
cigarette.
Nobody said that giving up cigarettes would be easy, but it is possible if you really want to.
Don't expect to quit smoking overnight. The day you decide to stop smoking will be the best day of
your life, but there will be ramifications to your body and your emotional state for the next few
weeks. However, with some patience and a one-day-at-a-time attitude, you will succeed, and you will
soon be celebrating your smoke free status.