10 Steps To Quit Smoking
Author: Anne Mitsu
Author: Anne Mitsu
Quitting an addiction is not everybodys cup of tea; you need to have a solid determination. When it comes to smoking, smokers have a huge excuse list to light a cigarette. If you wish to believe me then let me share a little anecdote from my life. After reading, you would know that its easy to quit smoking if you really wish to.
My father quit smoking in a day! I grew up as a passive smoker. Our family was breathing the polluted air; my father used to be a chain smoker. Cigarette meant life to him. Life was moving at its own pace and the number of cigarettes per day was increasing with the pressures of life. Suddenly, on an unfortunate morning he suffered a severe heart attack. For about 24 hours he was lying unconscious and the moment he woke up, he asked for a cigarette. We had suffered mentally during those 24 hours and doctors said they would monitor him for another 48 hours. We refused him the cigarette. He compelled us, he needed it badly. He didnt need it actually but his mind that was trained to have a cigarette was asking for it. How could we give it to him? We told the doctor. The doctor asked my father, Have you ever met any patient smoking in the ICU? well, that was quite an indication to him. Later the doctors convinced him that even a single cigarette could be fatal and he promised not to smoke again. Almost every time he had the urge to smoke but he curtailed. Initially for six months it was very difficult but steadily his desire to smoke died and now he doesnt even think about it.
If you determine then you can do it. The first few weeks may be tough, but it becomes easy.
Try to follow these steps to quit smoking for good.
1. Take a stern decision against smoking; quit cigarette. Dont buy a pack when the last one is over.
2. Dont let your nerves respond to the urging impulse. Once you determine not to smoke remove your ashtrays, lighters and tobacco. Even if you dont wish to smoke they remind you to smoke. Better to keep them out of sight to keep the cigarette out of mind.
3. Keep yourself busy so that the mind is off the cigarette. You may argue that cigarettes help releasing stress but this is just a mental myth. If you wish to get rid of stress exercise is the mantra. Get used to a regular exercise regime; take the stairs instead of the lift.
4. Hydration is a must. Keep having fluids. Always keep a glass of water or juice with you and keep sipping it gradually. If you go for juices then try different flavors.
5. Make a few changes in your routine. Try not to visit the shop where you buy your cigarettes from. And yes, not to forget here, avoid hanging around with colleagues at the smoking zone. Stay away from smokers as much as possible.
6. When you get that inexorable desire to place that lighted cigarette between your lips put a chewing gum in your mouth. The explosion of flavors and the mouth exercise would make you forget about the cigarette.
7. Dont look for excuses! A stressful situation or unpleasant news should not be your reason to smoke and there is no reason to celebrate with a cigarette. You cannot be so vulnerable to an enticement that slow poisons your life.
8. Curtailing desires is not easy, you may feel irritated, you may loose concentration and you may even get desperate for a cigarette. These signs of irritability would fade away after a few weeks. Be optimistic! Remember that you are trying to kill a devil inside you which is slowing nibbling on your life. Make yourself feel that you are recovering from the effects of tobacco and heading towards a healthy life.
9. Every 24 hour that you spend without a cigarette is an achievement for your and your familys health. If you think further then you are contributing towards the environment too.
10. If you stop smoking then you apparently save some money. Treat yourself with this money! Purchase something for yourself which you usually would not have bought. This is nothing but a kind of motivation.
You may feel that I am preaching but if you follow this religiously for a month then I am sure you would be able to get rid of a bad habit and lead a healthy life. It is difficult to quit smoking but not impossible. When the going gets tough the tough gets going.About the Author:
http://inkopia.com
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