First, congratulations on your decision to quit smoking. Your initial quitting days can be difficult but not impossible because there are quite a few ways to stop smoking. Giving up smoking is a good promise to yourself for better health and living a joyous life with your loved ones. In the smoking cessation process, you may find several hurdles. When you feel a strong urge to consume/inhale tobacco, the only thing that you have to do is to break this chain that pushes you towards severe health issues like heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, COPD, diabetes, and cancer.
Doctor consultation, therapies, and medicine intake are the advanced steps that help quit smoking. One should try to explore other best ways to quit smoking before moving to a doctor. This page will discuss some natural ways to quit smoking. Feel confident about being able to quit smoking habits; if you are adamant about doing it, that means you can do it.
The easiest way to quit smoking to stay smoke-free
The journey of quitting smoking is not going to be easy; you should be dedicated to breaking your nicotine addiction this time. Here are a few tips to stop smoking that will not only help you become smoke-free but also keep you motivated and on track:
1. Look at your current routine and avoid triggers
Check your daily routine and identify when you smoke: with a coffee or after a meal. You will need to make changes accordingly and break your bad habits. If you have a habit of smoking while sipping morning coffee, switch to tea instead of your favourite hot cappuccino. If you smoke after a meal, you prefer to go for a walk. It is also suggested to avoid smokers like office colleagues, cousins, and friends, people who would make you want to smoke. Still, if you feel unable to control your urge to smoke, then have a piece of one clove. Have this clove piece in your mouth for 10 minutes and chew it later. This will give you the similar warmth and mind relaxation that you may feel while smoking. Chewing a clove is a very popular cigarette replacement idea people often prefer to opt for.
2. Have patience, and the cravings will pass
During the initial days of the quitting program, you will be anxious, your chest will feel tight, and you will continuously be indicated by your brain that you need a cigarette to feel better. Nicotine is what makes your job difficult. Your body needs nicotine that you have become dependent on; when you are deprived of it, your blood pressure and heart rate accelerate. The good thing is that nicotine cravings only last for three to five minutes whether you smoke cigarettes or not. Whenever cravings attack you, try to distract yourself by calling a friend, sipping a glass of water, taking deep breaths, using your mobile, playing a game, or having a cup of coffee. Nicotine craving feels strongest during the early days if you quit. But don’t panic if you get sudden cravings six months after you smoke last. Just ignore it. Keeping patience helps to stop smoking.
3. Make yourself busy
Many have the habit of smoking when they feel bored. Especially when you give up smoking, the period of boredom becomes long and difficult to handle. Stay busy to keep yourself distracted. Find ways to keep yourself busy, meditate, and play with a pen or any toy to keep your hands busy. Watch some reels or shorts, or spend some quality time with your loved ones who are non-smokers. You can opt to chew nicotine gums to keep your mouth busy. Nicotine gums are one of the best quit smoking products; this will help you stop smoking and keep your cravings away.
4. Drink water
Experts say drinking will help flush out nicotine away from your body. Drink as much water as you can to stay hydrated. To avoid nicotine cravings, you can sip a glass of cold water. Drinking water also helps you avoid eating unhealthy foods that cause weight gain.
5. Be active
Smoking can have a significant impact on the lungs. You might feel gasping for breath after running to catch a train or bus or simply climbing office stairs. When you have decided to stop smoking, include exercise in your daily routine. Get active, go for a walk daily, and exercise your lungs. Replace your bad habit with running or brisk walking.
6. Avoid gaining extra kilos
Weight gain is often associated with quitting smoking. Many people tend to eat more once they stop smoking. Experts suggest eating a balanced diet at regular intervals of the day and snack on fruits and veggies between meals. As mentioned above, increase your water intake to satisfy your hunger. Putting in extra kilos means putting yourself at high risk of developing heart disease, blood pressure problems, stroke, diabetes, or cancer. Smoking is injurious to health and bad for your pocket, with zero benefits, so it is better to stay away from it. The above tips offer help to stop smoking when followed rigorously. You can reach your goal by using these tips to quit smoking.
