Quit Smoking Ways - Preplanning Activities
Monday, April 9th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
Most smokers admit that they would love to quit smoking and they are looking for quit smoking ways that will make it easier and as pain free as possible. There are so many quit smoking ways, products and aids on the market that it can be difficult to choose one. There is no right or wrong quit smoking way, so pick one that you are comfortable with and just do it.
Most smokers try 3-4 times to quit smoking before they succeed. Others quit smoking the first time they try. Every smoker is different and if you asked 50 ex-smokers how they quit you would probably get 50 different quit smoking ways. But every ex-smoker would agree that in order to quit smoking successfully, the first thing you need to do is make the decision to quit, no matter what. You must be dedicated to your success.
If you are a heavy smoker or have been smoking for more than 5 years, it will be very difficult to quit smoking all at once. Here are some quit smoking ways that make it easier:
- first make the decision to quit smoking and choose a quit date at least 30 days away;
- stop smoking in your house and car at least 30 days before your quit date;
- start to reduce your smoking at least 30 days before your quit date. Consider smoking at a regular interval, such as every hour; and
- begin preparing for your quit date as soon as you make the decision to quit smoking.
Smoking is both a mental habit and a physical addiction. When you quit smoking in your house and your car, you begin to separate the mental connection between smoking and these areas. It will be easier to be at home and in your car as a non-smoker. The smoke odor will also start to disappear from these areas.
Most of the cigarettes you currently smoke are out of habit. In order to begin weakening the mental habit, you should begin smoking on a schedule. By reducing your smoking and using a schedule, you accomplish two things: 1) weaken your prior mental smoking habit and 2) begin reducing your nicotine intake. This is a quit smoking way that eases your withdrawal symptoms and begins to prepare you mentally for your quit date. You are using these methods to begin to take control of your smoking habit.
There are many quit smoking ways to prepare for your quit date, as instructed in item 4 above. Here are some common ones:
- make a list of all the reasons that you want to quit smoking. Review the list twice daily before and after your quit date;
- make a list of the health risks of smoking and the benefits of quitting smoking;
- identify the triggers that cause you to light a cigarette;
- begin to indentify alternative ways of dealing with these triggers;
- make a list of additional activities you can do after you quit that you do not associate with smoking. These will keep your mind occupied after you quit smoking; and
- put together your support mechanisms and reward system, etc.
Although there are many quit smoking ways available, the most successful ones involve preplanning activities like the ones above, a quit smoking product or aid, alternative plans to deal with smoking triggers and behavior modification. You will need to avoid people, places and activities that you currently associate with smoking when you first quit smoking. Avoiding these will increase your chance of success.
A key quit smoking way is to minimize temptation, especially when you first quit. You are very vulnerable during this period and avoidance is usually the best approach. There is no need to make it harder on yourself than necessary. Make the decision, use preplanning and stick with it.
To Your Health,
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