As you will know if you follow the blog on a regular basis, I am not a smoker nor have I ever been. Smoking isn’t something that I am a fan of in any way. I’m a cross to the other side of the street to avoid a smoker kind of person to be honest.
That’s why I thought I would put together this guide to making it easier to quit. There are so many reasons to quit, from your health to your finances, it might be hard at first, but if you persevere, it’s possible to quit for good.
If you want to be healthier and want to prevent your family suffering from second-hand smoke inhalation, you need to quit today. To make the process easier for you, I’ve done lots of research about the best ways to making quitting a little more doable.
Don’t go cold turkey!
Whatever you do, don’t make the mistake of going completely cold turkey. According to the experts, cutting out nicotine altogether makes quitting almost impossible. You see, it’s the nicotine you’re addicted to, not the cigarettes themselves. You might miss having something in your hands to hold, but you won’t crave cigarettes, just the nicotine inside them. The good news is that there are so many products out there that can make giving up easier. From nicotine gums to sprays, there are plenty of options to choose from, many of which are available free on the NHS.
However, one of the best ways to make quitting easier is by taking up vaping. You get your nicotine hit like you would when smoking, the only difference being that you’re getting it from steam, not smoke. To ensure that you’re getting the right amount of nicotine, choose the best e liquid with the right concentration. Each liquid varies in nicotine strength to help make reducing your nicotine intake easier.
Know your triggers and avoid them
When it comes to craving a cigarette, you’ll have certain triggers. These could be anything from smelling cigarette smoke to spending time with someone who smokes. It’s important to know your triggers so that you can avoid them.
Eventually, you’ll be able to deal with these types of things but when you first quit they can send you over the edge. The best way to prevent yourself from smoking is by staying away from your triggers.
Focus on your ‘why’
Whenever you feel your resolve to quit slipping, take some time to focus on your ‘why’ – aka the reason you’ve quit. Whether it’s so that you’ll be healthier, in the long run, to save money or to keep your kids safe from smoke, it doesn’t matter.
Use your reason for giving up in the first place when you find yourself starting to slip. It might not be easy to stay smoke-free but if you focus on your reason for quitting you can kick the habit for good.
Take these tips on board and you can make quitting much easier and more manageable. It might be hard at first but in the long-run it’s more than worth the effort.
Are you an ex-smoker? We would love to know what worked for you.
