How to Quit Smoking On a Shoestring Budget
It is hard enough to quit smoking in the first place, but how do you accomplish your goal without spending a lot of money? There are all kinds of products out there that hit your pocket book like gum, patches and medications, but even those can fail without the right psychological framework.
In fact, it is possible to stop smoking without using any of those products that are marketed as the only solution to your problem.
The first step is to identify the why of quitting tobacco.
Basically, cessation is the single most important factor in improving the quality and length of a smoker's life.
If that isn't enough reason to quit, maybe improving the quality and length of family members lives will sustain you.
The next step is to identify what you are up against.
Mark Twain made a good illustration, "Quitting smoking is easy.
I've done it a thousand times.
" The reason it is so hard to quit smoking is the highly addictive drug found in cigarettes called nicotine.
You are going to experience withdrawal symptoms that will make you want to give up.
These include any of the following:
The bad news is that you are going to have to deal with both.
The good news is there is help for you.
Now, let's focus on the rewards of quitting.
The long term benefit is you will live longer and get sick less.
The immediate rewards of smoking cessation include: heightened sense of smell, improved taste of food, better smelling breath, reduced body odor, yellow coloration diminishes, and physical stamina increases.
Another enormous benefit is the cost savings you will enjoy.
Let's get down to business and discuss the key elements in quitting cigarettes for good.
Smokers need to make the decision to quit and set a quit date.
This includes believing that you can in fact quit and that you will give your best effort to do so.
Make sure your quit date is not too far off to prevent yourself from rationalizing your way out.
Then you need to prepare for your quit day by telling friends and family for support, getting rid of all items related to cigarettes like ashtrays and lighters, and stocking up on substitutes like hard candy, carrot sticks, cinnamon sticks, and sugarless gum.
After you begin, you will need to deal with withdrawal.
The most difficult part is the mental association of smoking with nearly every activity that you do.
These activities can make it easy to grab a pack of smokes and start up again.
You can help avoid these associations by avoiding temptation, changing your habits, participating in stress reducing activities like a hobby or exercise, breathing deeply, and rewarding yourself for overcoming urges.
One other item can significantly increase your chance of quitting and that is avoiding alcohol.
One glass of wine with dinner might be OK, but anymore and you could easily lose control.
After all, don't most people smoke when they drink? The last step is maintaining your cessation.
The good news is that all the things you did to quit in the first place will help you stay quit for good.
At least you don't have to learn anymore information! However, if you need additional help, you can get tons of good resources from your doctor, hospital, or dentist.
Nearly fifty million Americans have quit smoking for good and so can you.
In fact, it is possible to stop smoking without using any of those products that are marketed as the only solution to your problem.
The first step is to identify the why of quitting tobacco.
Basically, cessation is the single most important factor in improving the quality and length of a smoker's life.
If that isn't enough reason to quit, maybe improving the quality and length of family members lives will sustain you.
The next step is to identify what you are up against.
Mark Twain made a good illustration, "Quitting smoking is easy.
I've done it a thousand times.
" The reason it is so hard to quit smoking is the highly addictive drug found in cigarettes called nicotine.
You are going to experience withdrawal symptoms that will make you want to give up.
These include any of the following:
- tiredness
- headaches
- reduced concentration
- irritability
- anxiety
- trouble sleeping
- dizziness
- depression
The bad news is that you are going to have to deal with both.
The good news is there is help for you.
Now, let's focus on the rewards of quitting.
The long term benefit is you will live longer and get sick less.
The immediate rewards of smoking cessation include: heightened sense of smell, improved taste of food, better smelling breath, reduced body odor, yellow coloration diminishes, and physical stamina increases.
Another enormous benefit is the cost savings you will enjoy.
Let's get down to business and discuss the key elements in quitting cigarettes for good.
Smokers need to make the decision to quit and set a quit date.
This includes believing that you can in fact quit and that you will give your best effort to do so.
Make sure your quit date is not too far off to prevent yourself from rationalizing your way out.
Then you need to prepare for your quit day by telling friends and family for support, getting rid of all items related to cigarettes like ashtrays and lighters, and stocking up on substitutes like hard candy, carrot sticks, cinnamon sticks, and sugarless gum.
After you begin, you will need to deal with withdrawal.
The most difficult part is the mental association of smoking with nearly every activity that you do.
These activities can make it easy to grab a pack of smokes and start up again.
You can help avoid these associations by avoiding temptation, changing your habits, participating in stress reducing activities like a hobby or exercise, breathing deeply, and rewarding yourself for overcoming urges.
One other item can significantly increase your chance of quitting and that is avoiding alcohol.
One glass of wine with dinner might be OK, but anymore and you could easily lose control.
After all, don't most people smoke when they drink? The last step is maintaining your cessation.
The good news is that all the things you did to quit in the first place will help you stay quit for good.
At least you don't have to learn anymore information! However, if you need additional help, you can get tons of good resources from your doctor, hospital, or dentist.
Nearly fifty million Americans have quit smoking for good and so can you.
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