Whether it’s exercise, meditation or distraction, there are a host of practical ways you can work on quitting cigarettes… for good!
1) Make a plan
The best way to be pragmatic about your quitting journey is undoubtedly to make a plan and try your very best to abide by a clear structure.
Set yourself a quit date. Look at your social engagements in the first few weeks. Gauge when and where you will face challenges. Establish how you will tackle the challenges. Then face every single well-planned day as it comes.
2) Exercise
From struggling to run up the stairs to wheezing after missing your bus, smokers can really feel how cigarettes impact their health.
So during the quitting process, a huge allure can be improving your physical health by establishing an exercise regime and seeing how you’re changing.
Book that gym class you’ve always felt too unfit for, try and run that extra distance or swim a few more lengths to help see the benefits of chucking cigarettes.
3) Find your ‘non-smoking’ support group
Social media sites are jam-packed with quitting forums, which are filled with fellow smokers with sage words of advice.
Whether it’s funny memes, tips or encouragements, the groups are a great way to find help from others who are going through a similar battle.
Additionally, it feels great to dish out your own advice and it feels great to help others.
4) Find a hobby
For further distraction, why not take up a hobby you have always contemplated? This can give you an amazing outlet to focus on.
Channeling your energies into something other than smoking means you not only develop a new skill but you can also tackle your cravings even further.
5) Change your diet
Many foods can be a trigger for smokers, with rich foods or heavy meals known to leave some reaching for their pack of cigarettes.
A practical way to address this is by working out what causes the desire and actively removing this from your diet.
Not only can it help with stopping your need for a cigarette but can also improve your diet in itself – working further in boosting your physical fitness.
6) Keep your hands and mouth busy
Cravings are often rooted in the physical action of holding a cigarette and drawing it to your mouth. You can help recreate this motion in a totally smoke-free fashion.
Some smoker clutch a straw or pencil to replicate the feeling of holding a cigarette while chewing sugar-free gun can help keep your mouth busy.
7) Nicotine Replacement Therapy
Nicotine Replacement Therapy is often the best method for those who cannot face going cold turkey from the cigarettes.
Either heading to your doctors for a prescription aid or utilising over the counter solutions for intense cravings such as nicotine patches, lozenges or gum, you can be placed on the right path for your quitting plan.
If you are concerned about nicotine-based replacement therapies, it is worth asking your doctor about nicotine-free stop smoking medications.
8) Pros and cons
Again, time to sit down with your pen and paper to best work out the pros and cons of smoking and why you should quit.
As you actively assess the lists, you will find for all your reasons to stay smoking, there are endless reasons to quit.
The perks of stopping come down to expense, health and so much more, so if you need an incentive, gather your thoughts.
9) Meditation
Mindfulness is widely lauded for helping a multitude of problems.
By clearing your thoughts and working hard on exercising positive thinking, you can help remove your brain from cravings and pesky desires.
There are a number of apps on the market which help promote wellness and positive thinking, so you do not have to independently work towards clearing your brain.
10) Saving scheme
Finances are one of the most alluring factors to turning towards a smoke-free life.
By assessing what you are spending and start putting away what you save, you can realise just how much of a hindrance your smoking habit truly is.
Again, there are a wealth of apps to help assist you in your aims.
It is imperative to explore the Internet, your smartphone and app store for assistance in your quitting journey.
Want to give up smoking?
Explore more about why and how to quit cigarettes at changeincorporated.com
Advertisement paid for by Change Incorporated (VICE) for its Quit Cigarettes initiative. Philip Morris International funds this initiative but has no editorial input, so may not share the views expressed. Find out more: changeincorporated.com
