Thinking About Quitting Smoking? Try These Tips!

Everyone now understands the health risks resulting from smoking, but stopping can still beextremely difficult. If you want to stop smoking, you might just need a push to get you on the rightpath. The following information and ideas can make it easier for you to stop smoking.

Try to stop smoking by using the method that is easiest for your needs. Cold turkey may not be themost effective approach for you. Statistically, people who try cold turkey fail 95% of the time.Nicotine is an extremely addicting substance, so medication, patches or therapy may be necessary.This will increase your likelihood of quitting for good.

Make sure to get adequate sleep while you try to stop smoking. For most people, staying up lateduring the night gives them increased cigarette cravings. You are more likely to be alone late atnight and could sneak a cigarette while no one else is with you. When you get the rest you need, it iseasier to focus on your commitment to stop and resist the temptation to give in to cravings.

If you have been unable to stop smoking with just willpower, add some nicotine substitutes and seeif that works. These substitutes are OTC medications that replace some of the nicotine your body isused to getting from smoking. This can ease withdrawal symptoms, and increase your chances ofquitting for good.

You don't have to go through this alone. Inform your family and friends that you are attempting toquit and ask them to inspire you to drop this habit. Having a support group is the single best thingyou can do for yourself. Sometimes being able to talk to someone who is experiencing the samesituations that you are will help keep you going.

Do not crack under stress or pressure: find another way to deal with your stress. Try the gym.Consider developing a new hobby. What about getting a massage? Give yourself enjoyabledistractions to keep you away from smoking, such as playing with your pets or kids.

One good reason to quit is for the people close to you. Secondhand smoke can affect the health ofanyone around you who come into constant contact with it. By quitting smoking, you are reducingyour loved ones' exposure to this dangerous substance, and improving the quality of the air theybreathe. When you quit, you will be improving not only your own health, but also the health of thepeople who live with you.

Reduce the number of cigarettes that you smoke. This helps to guide you down the road to stoppingyour reliance on cigarettes. Try waiting a minimum of one hour after you wake up before havingyour fist cigarette. To cut back, try smoking 1/2 of a cigarette instead of a full one.

If you are serious about quitting your smoking habit, you need to get good at it. Many ex-smokerstook several tries before they were successful. Stop smoking, and have the mindset that you will stopfor as long as possible. When you do give into a cigarette, try to quit again immediately after. Eachtime you quit smoking and have a relapse, learn what went wrong and strive to quit for longer thenext time. After a while, you should be able to quit for the very last time.

The first step in any plan to stop smoking, is stopping. In fact, this is the only possible way to start

yourself on the road to a smoke-free lifestyle. Once you stop, don't allow yourself to begin again. Thecold turkey method will seem very difficult. It is really the best way, over the long term.

Get a calendar and mark off the milestones you're looking to reach and which rewards you'll receivewhen you get there. Write down a list of rewards you will allow yourself when you have stoppedsmoking for a day, a week and a month. Make sure you can see that list every single day. That mightbe just the thing that keeps you motivated when you feel temptation.

To keep yourself motivated, you should think about how your declining health could affect yourfamily. According to U.S. statistics, twenty percent of all deaths are directly related to smoking. Donot become a number!

Don't become discouraged if you fail quitting once. Plenty of people that did eventually stop smokingfailed the first time they tried. Figure out the causes of your caving in, learn from it and then tryquitting again. You may experience a bigger triumph down the road.

Exercise can replace smoking. An exercise session triggers release of mood-elevating endorphinsand also provides a needed distraction from thinking about smoking. You should also exercise tocounteract certain side effects of quitting, such as weight gain.

Every time you want to smoke a cigarette, try some deep breathing. Use that time to focus on thereasons that you chose to quit. The increased oxygenation can also leave you feeling rejuvenated.Deep breathing exercises are so easy to do and you can do them anywhere at virtually any time.

Make a list of your habits when it comes to lighting up. In some cases, you may learn that you aremore prone to smoking in certain types of situations. If you are ready for the tobacco cravings, thenyou can deal with them, which will make you better able to avoid the temptations.

Don't go overboard with eating! Don't start a new diet while you are in the middle of quittingsmoking. You should instead follow a balanced and healthy diet. Studies show that tobacco residuein your mouth makes veggies, fruits and low-fat dairy items have a bad taste. You need these itemsas part of a healthy diet; stop smoking so you can get your taste buds back.

Having some simple techniques in your arsenal, you'll win the war against smoking. If you take theadvice of this article seriously and apply it with persistent diligence, you will hopefully be able tosucceed at quitting smoking, once and for all. Utilize these tips to protect you and your family'shealth.