Trying to quit tobacco? Here are 7 tips to permanently quit smoking. Read them.
That smoking is harmful to health is a well-known fact. Nicotine, the main component of cigarettes, is a highly addictive legal drug and very harmful not only for the health of the smoker but also for those around him, especially that of children. In addition, tobacco is the main cause of preventable deaths.
Quitting smoking is not easy as it is not just about quitting a habit but about quitting an addiction . You have probably tried it on other occasions and have found it difficult to quit. It is never too late to try again. In this article we are going to explain a few tips and tricks to quit smoking . We hope they help you.
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Trick 1: Find a reason to quit
If you are really motivated, you can get it. You need a powerful reason to quit . Any reason is valid: Improve your health, protect that of those around you by preventing them from being passive smokers, reduce your expenses …
Trick 2: Avoid triggers
Smoking is often associated with a habit or daily activity. For example, drinking alcohol, going out with friends, or smoking after eating.
- Smoking and alcohol. Many people have a habit of smoking when they drink alcohol. Try to switch to non-alcoholic drinks or drink alcohol only in closed public places where smoking is prohibited and in places where you cannot go outside in case of temptation.
- Being with other smokers. If you are trying to quit smoking and are surrounded by people who smoke, it will be very difficult to do so. At least the first few days. Avoid meeting them or ask them not to smoke or smoke less in your presence. This does not mean that quitting tobacco is giving up your old friends and activities, you are simply avoiding the familiarity associated with your smoking habits. Everything helps.
- Smoking after eating. For smokers, there is nothing more pleasant than a cigarette after eating. A trick to avoid this is to eat nuts such as pipes, a little chocolate, a piece of fruit or chew gum. Or simply, avoid sitting still and start doing something else right away. What if you clear the table?
Tip 3: Find out and consult a specialist
It is not just about throwing away cigarettes. Smoking is an addiction. The brain is hooked on nicotine. If you cannot get rid of cigarettes on your own, seek professional help to get it out of your life once and for all.
Ask your GP about the different methods to stop smoking and if there is a specific program to stop smoking in your health center. This way you will have information and support for when you take the big step.
Trick 4: Choose a method to quit tobacco
Today there are many methods and aids to quit smoking: nicotine patches, mouth spray, gum, lozenges or electronic cigarettes . Therapies such as hypnosis or psychological treatment help to stop smoking.
Choose the system that convinces you the most, with the one that you feel most comfortable with. Maybe you can go for a combination of them.
Tip 5: Make a plan to quit smoking and prepare
Pick a date to quit smoking. It can be a special day like your birthday or the beginning of a quiet and relaxed period like the holidays. In this period you should focus your attention on your goal of quitting smoking and change some habits and routines to achieve it. Plan what you are going to do instead of smoking at times when you are most likely to do so. Play sports, walk, ride a bike. Exercise helps relieve the urge to smoke. Get a lot of sleep, avoid alcohol and coffee. Eat healthy and hydrate well.
Tip 6: Seek support from family and friends
You are going to enter a very difficult process both emotionally and physically. Tell your friends, family, and co-workers about your plan to quit smoking . The fact of telling it establishes a commitment to yourself and to those around you.
Do not be afraid!. You are going to take a very important step and they will be the accomplices that will help you, especially when you are in a bad mood.
Tip 7: Technology, your ally
Do you know that you can carry an ally on your mobile to quit smoking? There are numerous smartphone or tablet applications with games or impressive images that can help you in this process.
One of the most popular is Kwit , an app that uses game-based reasoning and mechanics to encourage you to quit smoking.
We also found QuitNow! , a tool that allows you to see how long it has been since you stopped smoking, the amount of money you have saved, the cigarettes you have not smoked … You even have a game to distract yourself in the most critical moments.
The British Heart Foundation has created Smoking Time Machine, a curious application that shows you the effects of tobacco on your face in 10 or 20 years.
But this is just a small sample. There are many more applications to quit smoking. Find the one that best suits your needs, see which one is the best rated, read the reviews and try several of them.
They say that it takes human beings 21 days to change a habit so a lot of patience for you and those around you … Good luck!
Find out what happens when you quit smoking
In this interesting video you will discover the incredible beneficial effects of quitting smoking, from recovering the sense of taste, smell, normalization of the pulse and blood pressure. In just 72 hours an improvement in your health is already perceived.
