How To Quit Smoking

Don't give in. I know - that's easier said than done. The average smoker will try to quit smoking eight times before finally succeeding. The best way to motivate yourself to do something is just to do it. The fact that you stopped smoking, even for a day, creates more of an impetus to continue that pattern the next day. Remember trying to stop smoking one day and, within a few hours, broke down and had a cigarette? Remember how you felt about yourself the next morning? If you're like me, you weren't very proud of yourself. The way to learn how to quit smoking is to find any one of the stop smoking methods that works for you and just continue, day after day, to not smoke. Because if you can make it that first week, you're 10 times more likely to quit completely.

Many people have failed in their first few attempts at quiting smoking. Whichever of the stop smoking methods you tried but didn't work for you, try a different method next time. And this time, add counseling and/or group therapy to your stop smoking program. Or visit the quit smoking forums online. Do you have a smoking buddy? Does she want to quit smoking? Team up and fight the battle together. When you learn how to help someone quit smoking, it reinforces what you're learning. You're learning as you teach, in a way. (This will sound familiar to you if you've read A Course in Miracles.) And tell everyone, "i quit smoking," especially your smoking friends who don't want to quit tobacco. Tell them not to give you a cigarette, no matter how much or how long you beg. And avoid other people who are smoking, because their smoke will smell soooo good.

Some more stop smoking advice is to write down your reasons for wanting to quit smoking, as well as some kind of reward. Refer to your list every time you want a cigarette. I've found that a craving usually lasts about 10 minutes. If you read your list and talk with your stop smoking buddy, the craving might well have passed. Figure out ahead of time what new thing you can do during those times you would normally be smoking. This replacement behavior needs to be healthy. You can't replace smoking cigarettes with a hot fudge sundae or an apple fritter each time you have a craving for a cigarette! Then you'll have a brand new addiction that you'll have to learn to overcome. So, instead of having a cigarette, call someone on the phone or take a short walk, it's up to you - just make sure it's a healthy activity. Also figure out ahead of time what you can do the next time you're feeling anxious or stressed. You should have a battle plan in place before you need it, and as something to refer to each time you feel weak. Keep it handy and use it frequently.