Drink More Water

Water eliminates toxins from your body, including toxins from smoking. By drinking plenty of water, you will essentially be eliminating your smoker's life and starting fresh as a non smoker.

The Most Valuable Secret

After the urges to smoke have become more and more infrequent, overwhelming surprise attacks are sure to come a few weeks and months into your new smoke free life. When these nearly out-of-control urges come (and they will always engulf you in totally unexpected moments):

You simply use the same methods you used when the urges were almost constant. As time passes, the urge to smoke is greatly reduced and becomes less and less. It will not be a continuous battle for the rest of your life, and keeping this on the forefront of your mind will help when an urge does hit.

Quit Smoking Cold Turkey

Many people prefer to quit smoking "cold turkey" rather than wean themselves gradually or through the use of nicotine replacement therapy or other smoking cessation aids.

If you quit cold turkey, you are quitting abruptly, and this can be successful, but it can also be difficult when the withdrawal symptoms hit. Make sure you understand that you will probably have more withdrawal symptoms with this method than with other methods of quitting.

Save Your Cigarette Money

Money spent on cigarettes adds up. A great way to support yourself and keep your motivation to quit smoking is figuring out what to do with these new found riches.

Put the money in a new savings account, and let it compile. While it's compiling have a goal as to what that money will be used for. Whether it's a new car, a well deserved vacation, or a new wardrobe, your goal will help you succeed in becoming smoke free and will also grant you an awesome reward in the end.

Replace Your Smoke Break

Smokers have smoke breaks, it's that simple. It is important to realize that you cannot do the same thing on a break that you did when you were smoking, because it triggers the urge to smoke.

Instead, go for a walk around the block or stay inside and surf the internet. Whatever you decide to do make sure it's with people who don't smoke and not places that will make you think about smoking.

It's All About the Withdrawal

Withdrawal not only from the addiction to nicotine, but to the act of actually smoking are the reasons people have such a hard time quitting.

Preparing yourself by making a list of ways to overcome your withdrawal symptoms will increase your chance for success.

It's Never Too Late

A big misconception among long time smokers is the thought of damage already done. People tend to think "I've smoked this long, I can't hurt myself any more."

The truth is, it doesn't matter how long you have smoked, and quitting now will improve your health. Your body will start to heal itself from the damage already done, giving you an opportunity to live a more healthy and happy lifestyle. It is never too late to quit smoking.

Things to Try If You Are Tempted to Smoke

There are many different things you can do when you are tempted to pick up a cigarette. Most of them are things to simply help you pass the time where you would normally smoke, but they can work wonders:


- Exercise
Walk/Run
Cycle
Swim
Dance


- Try Different Activities
Read
Soak in the tub
Crafts
Visit the library
Visit the theatre
Send your message to quit smoking to others in need


- Other ideas
Drink water with a straw
Chew on toothpicks or gum
Keep your refrigerator supplied with carrots, celery and apples for snacks

Quit With a Buddy

If you have a friend that smokes and you have talked with them about quitting, make a plan to quit together. Not only does this offer additional support for each other, but going through withdrawal at the same time will help you empathize with each other and increase your chances of success!

Alternative Methods

There are a few "alternative" ways to quitting smoking compared to the traditional will power methods. Some of these are:

- Acupuncture

- Hypnosis

- Therapy

I Am a Nonsmoker!

An important part of quitting smoking is to change your thought process about the matter. Don't set yourself up for failure by continuing to think like a smoker. You must confirm to yourself on a daily basis that you are smoke free forever, and start thinking like it!

10 Stages of Quitting Smoking

If you are a health-concerned smoker who has been thinking about quitting, ask yourself which of the following 10 quit smoking stages you have reached as of today. Then pick three things you can do within the next month that will help you get to the next stage. Rank three things you´ve chosen in order of importance. Then work hard to do them. Keep repeating this exercise until you reach Stage 10.

Stage 1. You´ve identified yourself as a health concerned smoker. You´re worried about the health effects of smoking and wonder if you should quit or cut down.

Stage 2. You decide that you will begin to seek additional information about smoking, quitting and other health related behaviors and will begin to actively explore your alternatives.

Stage 3. You decide to take some steps to modify your smoking level and/or your overall health status - e.g. observing your smoking triggers, switching brands, cutting down, getting more exercise, taking vitamins, managing stressful situations more effectively, paying more attention to your bonds with family and friends.

Stage 4. You make a firm commitment to quit but do not specify a quitting date.

Stage 5. You set a quitting date and make a firm commitment to quit on that date.

Stage 6. You smoke your last cigarette and go without smoking for 24 hours.

Stage 7. You complete your first week as a nonsmoker.

Stage 8. You complete your first month as a nonsmoker.

Stage 9. You complete your first three months as a nonsmoker.

Stage 10. You complete your first year as a nonsmoker.

On The Day You Quit Smoking

The day you quit smoking will be a very tough day mentally. There are things you can do to eliminate some of the anguish you might feel:

- Make sure all cigarettes and ashtrays are thrown away

- Spray the house and air it out to make sure you do not "smell" something that will trigger you to want a cigarette

- Make sure you change your entire routine around when you smoked. Make a point to do something different during times you know you would normally be smoking

- Have a support group ready to help. Use your friends and family, and call them or visit them when you feel the need for additional support

The 5 Ds To Quitting Smoking

- Drink water
Nicotine is water soluble. The more you drink, the quicker the nicotine gets flushed out of your system.

- Deep breath
This is a good stress reduction technique. Many people pick up their cigarettes because they are stressed or are anticipating a stressful situation.

- Delay
Most urges last two minutes, so do your best to outlast your urges, take a walk or eat a carrot.

- Discuss with friends
Having someone to talk to at a moment when you feel the urge to smoke may be the distraction you need until the urge passes.

- Do something else
This will take your mind off the urge you are experiencing. Try picking up a new hobby or keeping your hands busy.

Journal Your Way To a Smoke Free Life

Journaling can be a helpful tool if you're trying to quit smoking. It is a place you can document your feelings, struggles, and successes through your journey. A journal can help keep your emotions in check. Use the journal as your friend – not just as a monologue of your daily events. Some people smoke because they feel stressed and need time to think or talk. Journaling enables you to do these things and still stay smoke free.

You can also use your journaling to help others trying to quit. Journal on a blog, so others can read what you are going through and offer their own support to you while you are in turn offering support to them.

List Your Reasons To Quit

When you decide to quit smoking, making a list of reasons to quit can help tremendously. Pick a number, and start there. So once you have 5 things on your list, pin it up somewhere in your home that will grab your attention multiple times on a daily basis. Once you think of more reasons (There are always more reasons) add them to your list. Make a game of it, and let it help you through the process to succeed!

Count the days since you stopped smoking.

There is a reason that recovering alcoholics and drug addicts know exactly how long it has been since they quit. They enjoy the days of sobriety. They need to know how many days of clean living they've had because it offers them hope that they can continue.

The same thinking can be applied to cigarettes. Count the days you've been smoke free. Use it as an incentive to know you can stay smoke free since you have some this far.

Helpful Quit Smoking Tips

There are many different methods that can be used when it comes time to quit smoking. Everyone is different, so things may work better for some than others. A very popular method of quitting is to quit with a plan:

- Pick a quit date

- Prepare by cutting down

- Start changing habits, like walking instead of smoking after dinner


Another popular method of quitting is to simply stop smoking. Cold turkey works for many people, especially when it is not their first attempt. This method usually works for people who are at the end of their rope and are simply tired of smoking.

Tell Your Smoking Buddies

When you make the decision to quit smoking, it is important to make sure everyone knows about it, smokers and non smokers alike! In order to be successful at quitting, you cannot be around people who are smoking. This means by telling everyone you quit, they will understand if you ask them to refrain from lighting up while you're around. They will also understand if you distance yourself from them through the withdrawal period.