Smoking is among the toughest habits to beat as the craving for tobacco in the cigarettes is way higher than one thinks. Also, it is easy for a non-smoker to trivialise the difficulties that a smoker is experiencing while he is trying hard to quit. Only the ones who are hooked on cigarettes know the dark side of this habit.
For all those who are struggling with smoking, there are certain relaxation methods as well as some smoking alternatives which are incredibly effective. Let’s see those methods one by one.
Find Your Motive
A hardcore smoker can’t quit the habit of smoking without a clear motive, period. Your ‘why’ should be so strong that it should compel you to quit each and every time you hold that cigarette. It could be a number of reasons like your health, your career goal, or the safety of your children from second-hand smoke.
Give yourself a break from your schedule and find out all the reasons why you want to quit smoking. Keep the list in a place where you would see it often or even at the shelf where you used to keep your cigarettes.
Get Support of Your Loved Ones
Someone who feels loved and cared for is more likely to quit smoking for good. This shows how much friends and family members play a big role in helping a person become smoke-free.
Tell your loved ones that you are trying to quit. They will surely encourage you to fight when you are feeling the urge to light up. Talking to a counselor or joining a support group are also fantastic ideas to keep oneself motivated during their journey.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is a medically approved way to take nicotine by other means than tobacco. It is also an easy way to stop smokingas it supplies low doses of nicotine in a periodic manner. Studies show that nicotine gum, nasal sprays, and lozenges which are part of the NRT, tremendously improves the chances of success while being in the quit-smoking program. These are basically short-acting therapies that are generally safe to use along with long-acting nicotine patches or one of the non-nicotine medications.
Exercise
Physical exercise can significantly help in easing the tobacco cravings and also reducing the chances of a relapse. Even short-bursts of exercises like push-ups and running up and down the stairs, a few times a day can prevent the urge to smoke.
Be sure about the activities you are going to do. Start slowly, and build-up to more frequent and more intense exercises. You will soon see how easily you come out of your smoking addiction.
Clean Your House
Once you have decided to quit smoking, clean your house, and remove all those triggers that remind you of smoking. This step is essential as most of the time we do things as a reaction to something else that is happening in our life.
For example, throw out all your ashtrays, lighters, and other things which you use while smoking. Wash all your clothes that smell like smoke, and also clean all the carpets, upholstery, and draperies. You can also use air-fresheners to eliminate the familiar odors in your house that trigger you to smoke.
Add more veggies in your diet
According to new research, smokers who increase their consumption of vegetables and fruits have a greater chance of quitting. A change in your diet can be a little bit difficult for those who don’t like veggies. However, with a little willpower, one can practice eating a balanced diet.
The most important rule for healthy eating is to not skip any meals. This will make you more disciplined, as far as your diet is concerned. Keep healthy snacks at your side which will help you to avoid junk foods while you are hungry.
Final Say
Quitting smoking is easier said than done. It needs a lot of conviction and also the ability to face failures over and again. Even if you fail, you should try to progress a little bit more than your previous attempt.
These above-mentioned methods would definitely help a person to overcome the habit of smoking. A little discipline might be required from your side to slowly adapt to these habits. If you succeed in implementing, you have taken a big leap to the success you are aiming for.
