How to Quit Smoking?

Life is short, make it last!

This fact alone that in the US, each year around half a million people die of smoking, should be enough to help you quit, but it’s not that easy. 

For most people, who are used to smoking, tobacco cravings or smoking urges can be strong. Not only a physical habit, smoking is also a psychological habit which people usually develop in their teens or early adulthood. 

Ironically, in early times, when the connection between cigarettes and various health issues including lung cancer had not been discovered, doctors used to smoke cigarettes as well. Tobacco manufacturing companies used doctors in their advertisements to claim that their product was better than the rest.  

After all the research and scientific evidence, it is now a known fact that cigarettes are extremely harmful. They are extremely addictive as the nicotine present in them provides a temporary high which most people enjoy. It tricks their brain into believing that smoking is a reliable way to get rid of daily life stress – which is not true. 

Since smoking cigarettes gives your body temporary relief, it is often too difficult for people to quit. Some people also experience symptoms of withdrawal which makes the process worse.

Even though the process may seem difficult but it is not impossible and to help you get through it, we have listed down a few tips:

1.Find a Reason

One of the things that will keep you extremely motivated to quit smoking is having a reason. Every person may have a different reason – some people may want to quit due to health issues, while others do it to protect their family from passive smoking. 

Whatever the reason maybe – it will keep you motivated. 

2. Delay the Craving

Whenever you feel the urge of smoking kicking in, try to delay it. For example, tell yourself that you should wait for 10 minutes to see if the craving persists. During these 10 minutes, try to distract yourself.  

3. Avoid Triggers

Try to avoid things that trigger your tobacco urge. For example, if you have a habit of smoking after eating your meals, try to switch to something else like brushing your teeth, talking to a friend, have a cup of tea, etc. 

4. Munch on Something

One of the best tricks that you can do to avoid smoking is chew on something. Munch on raw carrots, nuts, sugarless gum, etc. Try to choose a healthy snack for this. 

5. Don’t Rely on the ‘Just One’ Temptation

“I’ll have just one cigarette” is the biggest lie you tell yourself. Do not be fooled into believing that you will just have one cigarette and then stop. More often than not, you won’t be able to stop yourself and one cigarette will lead to another. 

6. Keep Yourself Distracted

Physical activity keeps you busy and distracts you from smoking cigarettes. You can choose to go out for a walk or a jog or join proper workout sessions. 

If you do not like physical activity, you can choose to get involved in any other activity, like painting, woodworking, sewing, etc. that you think will keep you distracted. 

7. Give Yourself a Break

Quitting smoking is a difficult process and some people are too hard on themselves. When you are going through the process of quitting, make sure you take breaks. 

Taking breaks does not mean going back to where you were, instead it means to use other techniques to relax your mind. You can meditate, learn how to play a musical instrument, listen to music, go for a walk, have a spa day, etc. 

If you are interested in buying a musical instrument, visit OLX Pakistan’s website. 

8. Talk to Family/Friends

Tell your family and friends that you are trying to quit smoking. They will encourage you, especially during the times when you are demotivated. You can also join a support group or get in touch with a professional. 

9. Remind Yourself of the Benefits

Whenever you feel demotivated, keep reminding yourself of the benefits of quitting smoking. Some of these benefits include feeling better, getting healthier, preventing your loved ones from becoming passive smokers, etc. 

If you are wondering how to quit smoking easily, then you must know that there is no easy way out. You have to increase your self-control and make yourself understand that it is neither good for your health nor for the people around you. 

We hope this guide will help you in achieving your goal. Do let us know if you have any other tips to share.