How many times have you said you want to quit smoking, but have not been able to?
Smoking is not something that can easily be given up, no matter how hard you try. For some people, going cold turkey and cutting them off completely is an effective way to quit. However, for others, it is best to slowly cut down and make small lifestyle changes, for a more sustainable change.
Quitting isn’t impossible. With these top tips, you can set yourself up for success.
#1 Make a plan
Sitting down and coming up with a plan is a great way to set yourself up for a good start. This enables you to lay out your rules, timeline, and all the steps you will take in between. This is important to keep you motivated along the way because when taking small steps, it can often feel like you are not going anywhere. But when you can see the road map in front of you, you know that every small step you take takes you to the finish line.
#2 Be patient
Changing any habit is hard enough, let alone a smoking habit. Be patient with yourself, and remember that to make a sustainable change in life, you will need to be consistent, and patient with yourself. It is easy to want to give up, but you must resist the urge and stick to your plan. Patience is key.
#3 Figure out when you crave smoking
Start to become aware of your current smoking habits, and if there is anything in particular that drives you to smoke. Is it a habit that you have adopted, to have one with your morning coffee? Or do you find yourself going out for one every time your boss angers you? The reason for your smoking habit will enable you to replace it with a healthier habit, or coping mechanism.
#4 A new habit
See if you can start to incorporate a new habit or coping mechanism. At the start of your journey, it is key to play around with different ideas to see which one works best for you. One of the most popular practices people adopt first in their smoking journey is to start switching over to vapes from The Vape Mall, to help you ease the transition. Other alternatives include exercise or breathing techniques.
#5 Get some support
It can be frustrating, particularly at the beginning, when trying to give up smoking. See if you can find a friend, family member, neighbor, co-worker, or just another individual who is trying to give up too. This way you can start together, align your plans, keep each other accountable and support each other through the process. This will be particularly helpful on hard days. Alternatively, there are many smoking support groups and helplines you can turn to if you would find it helpful to speak to someone.
Trying to quit smoking is no small, or easy task. The best way to set yourself up for success is to have a plan, be patient with yourself, identify your triggers, implement a new habit and get some support.