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p>It takes a lot of guts and determination to stop smoking. You need to be clear about the reasons why you want to quit. The best thing to do is make a stop smoking plan along the following points:
1. Make a list of the reasons you want to quit.
These might include wanting to prevent serious disease, not having a smoker's breath, clothes and environment being better smelling, saving money etc.
2. Make a plan for how you want to quit.
You should set a date for when you want to start quitting. Fixing a day in your mind will help you prepare mentally.
3. Tell your family and friends about your plan.
There is nothing like moral support of your family and friends to help you through the difficult times. Also, if you tell your family and friends about your plan, it will be more difficult to lapse since there is an element of shame, or pride, which might persuade you to rather stick to your plan than to give up.
4. Be prepared.
You should know what to expect - you will probably experience withdrawal symptoms that will make you irritable in the first few days. Things should start to ease up after the first couple of days. See it in the light of having a light flu or cold - uncomfortable, but the symptoms will pass! Other symptoms might be restlessness, sleeplessness, lack of concentration. Try and plan your stop smoking start day around the fact that you might experience these and try and not overlap it with stressful demands at work.
5. Plan your aids.
If your smoking is more a physical dependence rather than a habit, you might want to investigate nicotine replacement therapy options, such as nicotine patches or a nicotine gum such as Nicorette. The drug Zyban also has shown great success in taking away the need to smoke. It is only available on prescription so you would need to consult your doctor. If your smoking dependence is more of a habit, you will have to try and find replacement activities, such as drinking water, tea or chewing gum. It might also be a good idea to take up some form of exercise to avoid any potential weight gain.
6. Plan your lifestyle.
As difficult as it may seem, you might have to change your lifestyle in the sense that you need to avoid situations where you may be tempted to smoke. This is probably one of the prime reasons why people do not want to give up smoking, since they realize that they might not be able to go out and socialize with friends who smoke. Unfortunately it is a fact that placing yourself in situations where you might be tempted to 'have just one' cigarette might undo all your efforts.
Author: Christine Anderssen
Previous article: 04 February 2007
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