If you are a long-time smoker and wish to stop smoking, the following guidelines may be of use in quitting the habit. Smoking has long-term health hazards, as reported in news clips and reports. The habit, however, is a personal decision, and it all depends on how determined a person is, and what level of abstinence can be practised to stop smoking.
People take to smoking for various reasons. It could be the sheer charm of smoking, joining a group, beating stress, soothing and calming nerves, and so on. The reasons for quitting are commonly health-related.
There does not seem to be a trick in quitting a habit. It is easy to fall back and start all over again. Perhaps a slow and steady approach can do the trick when more severe methods have failed.
Here are a few words to guide and reaffirm your determination to quit smoking if you wish to do so:
- If you keep failing, have faith in yourself. You can do it if others have done it before.
- It is important to remind yourself of the reasons you want to quit smoking. Write them down and read them regularly.
- Seek help from others around, the ones you trust, in talking to you about quitting. When others persuade us, it may work better for some.
- There are medical substitutes available that help people climb down on the amounts.
- Setting a deadline by the end of which one must quit can help in some cases.
- Find out which plan works best for you ñ an immediate stop, a gradual pulling out, or some combination.
- Knowing and talking to people who have quit smoking can boost your morale.
- Smoking could be related to poor health and regimen. Change your regimen and see if it can substitute for the need to smoke.
- Visualize the lifestyle of a non-smoker, and find out why it is positive and good. This will increase the attraction toward the goal.
