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Tips on Quitting Cigarettes

Making the decision to quit smoking means you have a lot of work ahead of you, but in the end your efforts might save your life. According to the American Cancer Society, cigarette smoking causes an estimated 443,000 deaths each year, making it one of the most dangerous habits you will ever kick. The process is far from easy, but your chances of success will increase dramatically if you approach it the right way.

  1. Stop Gradually

    • When you make the decision to give up cigarettes, you might get the urge to quit all at once. Statistically, this method of quitting is not successful, as 95 percent of smokers who go cold turkey end up relapsing, according to Web MD. Nicotine is an extremely addictive drug, and abruptly cutting off a body accustomed to regular doses of it results in results in a variety of troubling side effects. Cut down your smoking little by little so that eventually stopping altogether is easier to handle.

    Put It In Writing

    • The best way to give up smoking for good is to genuinely want to do so. Think of all the motivating factors involved in your decision to quit smoking, and commit them to paper. Your decision might have come from wanting to take better care of your body or to set a better example for your children. List all the reasons you want to quit, and bind yourself to a contract. Later, when a weak moment arrives, refer to it for renewed determination.

    Change Your Routine

    • Smoking cigarettes is habit-forming and might prove difficult to give up just because it has become such a normal part of your daily routine. In these cases, shake up that routine and do new things to get your mind off smoking. If you need something in your mouth, consider gum, hard candy, carrot sticks or sunflower seeds. Take part in hobbies that require active use of your hands such as needlework or woodworking. Find any distraction to keep you busy and safe from the temptation to smoke.

    Reward Yourself

    • Don't forget the fun part of accomplishing something difficult: the reward. Although it's unlikely the incentive of a reward alone provides enough motivation to stop smoking, it can't hurt. Depending on how frequently you smoked, your decision to quit might save you quite a bit of money each week. Put the money you normally spend on cigarettes into a jar, and treat yourself to something fun frequently as a constant reminder that you made the right decision to quit.

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