Stop Smoking Tips

Remove all cigarette products and reminders from your home or your environment. Take 48 hours to clear the nicotine from your system (or use nicotine patches, gum, lozenge, spray, inhaler or straws) and stay away from anything that reminds you of cigarettes. That might be friends, television, alcohol, or stress. If you can pack up and go camping for the weekend that is the best option available.

Smokers often use breaks at work to grab a cigarette. Instead grab a walk or exercise of some nature. Get your body moving and keep it moving. During your work break you will crave a cigarette – it’s a psychological event, not physical. You have to break the associations that go with the craving by developing a new association.

Watch your self talk. Sometimes you may have used smoking to get through a stressful situation. When you feel or ‘hear’ yourself saying you need a cigarette to get through this shout “STOP’ in your head. These are old thought and an old, very unhealthy way of dealing with stress.

Find a way to reward yourself when you pass milestones such as a week, a day or a month.

Before you quit smoking set up distractions for yourself that don’t involve smoking or situations associated with smoking. Find 6 things you’d like to read, enjoy, try or appreciate and keep them in mind when you begin to feel cravings – or to keep yourself occupied and motivated.

Each time you feel the need for a cigarette get physical. The act of requiring more oxygen, breathing deeply and moving muscles will help to decrease cravings and motivate you to continue. Take up running, walking, rowing, stair climbing – it doesn’t matter. As long as the doctor approves and you have access to the activity – go for it!

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