5 Ways To Help You Stop Smoking For Good

You probably already know how damaging and unhealthy smoking is but this doesn’t make breaking the highly addictive habit any easier.

With the change of seasons, it’s really worth giving it a go and improving your health in the process. However difficult quitting is, you know it will be worth it in the long-term as it will help you enjoy a longer and healthier life whilst saving money too – a win/win. Below are some helpful tips to help you quit smoking for good.

Pick a date to quit

You’ve probably promised to quit smoking countless times before. To help you succeed finally doing it, pick a quitting date and stick to it. There’s an expression stating ‘tomorrow never comes’ so get ahead of it by choosing a date to not smoke anymore. Avoid doing it on a Monday, since they’re stressful enough, and maybe go for a mid-week or even weekend date – once you can make it from Friday to Monday without smoking, you’ll start to realise that a life without cigarettes is possible.

Try e-cigarettes

Sometimes going cold-turkey is a sure way to fail. If this has been you in the past, then give e-cigarettes a go. By replacing the usual cigarettes with something else that still delivers the nicotine your body craves, you’ll slowly start to break the habit you’re so used to. Look into new generation e-cigarettes like JUUL, offering a starter kit that can help you kick the habit without horrible withdrawal symptoms. Use it as a transition on the way to a smoke-free life.

Identify your cravings

Think about the times you most crave cigarettes; it may after a weekly work meeting or something else you find stressful. By doing this you can develop a picture of what psychologically draws you to smoking and start replacing it with something else. Short-term stress can be alleviated with moments of mindfulness or, alternatively, you can try doing else that you find soothing. Many people find hot drinks comforting so you could maybe try having a cup of tea or even going for the flavoured kinds to surprise your palette, therefore distracting you from the craving. Pick a new (and healthy) habit to replace smoking.

Make a list of reasons to quit

Your desire to smoke is all about fulfilling a short-term craving. Think to the future and all the things you want to accomplish or people you want to spend time with – will this be possible to do if you continue smoking? Write all these things down and a make a few copies of the list; stick it around your home and maybe even keep one on your desk as a reminder of what you’re gaining once you quit for good. Read through the list whenever you feel a craving for extra motivation.

Keep healthy snacks around

Your appetite is likely to be out of control for a little while as you reduce or quit smoking so keeping healthy snacks on hand is really important to keep cravings and overeating at bay. Almonds are full of protein and the crunch is a great distraction; you can also stock up on veg and hummus, yoghurt, and ready to eat bars – look for items low in sugar to keep your appetite satisfied for longer.