A Great Day to Quit for Good

I’ve written about this topic before but since it will soon be the beginning of Lent it’s a good time to encourage all you smokers out there to roll up your sleeves and get determined to break the habit once and for all.

There’s no need to give another lecture on how much your smoking addiction is costing your health!

With the financial cost of smoking at around €4,500 a year for 20 a day you could be going on mini-holidays every month with the saving

If you can…QUIT COLD TURKEY.

In the long run it’s the easiest and most effective way to stop.
If you’ve found it impossible to stop cold turkey then talk to your pharmacist or doctor about the great range of nicotine patches, gums, inhalers and tablets that can be a huge help in freeing you from your nicotine addiction forever.

Quit smoking one day at a time.

Do not concern yourself with next year, next month, next week or even tomorrow. Concentrate on not smoking from the time you wake up until you go to sleep.

Do not carry cigarettes!

This one is a give in!

Be aware that many routine situations will trigger the urge for a cigarette.

Situations which will trigger a response include drinking coffee, alcohol, sitting in a bar, social events with smoking friends, or eating out in restaurants.

Try to maintain your normal routine while quitting.

If any event seems too tough, leave it and go back to it later. Do not feel you must give up any activity forever. Everything you did as a smoker, you will learn to do at least as well, and maybe better, as an ex-smoker.

Make a list of all the reasons you want to quit smoking.

Keep this list with you, preferably where you used to carry your cigarettes. When you find yourself reaching for a cigarette, take out your list and read it.

Drink plenty of fruit juice the first three days

It will help flush nicotine out of your system.

To help avoid weight gain, eat vegetables and fruit instead of sweets and chocolate.

Healthy snacks like chopped celery or carrots can distract you from the urge for a cigarette!

If you are worried about putting on weight, do some moderate form of regular exercise.

If you have not been exercising regularly, consult your doctor for a practical exercise program, which is safe for you.

If you have a life crisis, (e.g. a family illness, money issues or just bad luck) while quitting, remember, smoking is no solution.

Smoking will just complicate the original situation while creating another crisis, a relapse into your nicotine addiction.

Consider yourself a “Smoke-a-holic.”

One puff and you can become hooked again. No matter how long you have been off, don’t think you can safely take a puff!

Don’t debate with yourself how much you want a cigarette.

Ask yourself how do you feel about slipping back into your old habits? Smoking is an “all or nothing “proposition.

Save the money you usually spend on cigarettes and buy yourself something you really want after a week or a month.

Save for a year and you can treat yourself to a fantastic holiday!

Practice deep breathing exercises

This is particularly helpful when you have a craving. This can not only distract you but put your mind at ease.

Go places where you normally can’t smoke

Avoid situations that may trigger your desire to smoke and instead go to places where no one can smoke, such as the cinema, libraries and no smoking sections of restaurants.

Tell people around you that you have quit smoking.

Tell your friends and loved one that you have quit smoking and that you are determined to kick your habit for good. Ask them to be kind enough to not offer you a cigarette when out or even jokingly tempt you to have one.

Be proud of yourself that you are not smoking

Even if you are only off them for one week, give yourself a clap on the back.

That is an achievement. Reward yourself by doing something you love, going out for a nice meal, buying yourself a new top (using the money that you would have spent if you had been smoking!

Millions of people who thought they could never quit are now non-smokers.

Believe it…. with determination and the right help… you can quit for good.