Stop Smoking Tips

Former smokers everywhere know that they will be asked one question after they share their story: "How did you do it?" While every story may be different, successful stories tend to have some similarities. Below you'll find five tried and true stop smoking tips to help kick the nicotine habit once and for all so you tell your own story someday.

Tips to Stop Smoking

• Don't Try To Do It Alone!

Even if the only support group that you have is a friend or two, going at it alone is highly discouraged. Plus, not everyone knows what to expect when they stop smoking . Alcoholics Anonymous always assigns a sponsor to each recovering alcoholic, and the reason for this is very simple: when you are accountable to another person you are far less likely to backslide. If you're tempted to smoke a cigarette or dip snuff, call your sponsor or friend. Go for a walk with a friend instead of smoking. Do yard work with a friend. This cannot be emphasized enough. Don't try to stop all by yourself! Check out quit smoking programs.

• Stop Smoking Products

There are a plethora of stop smoking products on the market, ranging from nicotine replacement therapies like gum and the patch to natural ways to stop smoking like herbal stop smoking products. Read up on all these stop smoking products to find the one that is right for you.

• Substitute Something Healthy For a Cigarette

While this may be a lot easier said than done, this is one of the most common mistakes that can be made. Clearly, there are health benefits to giving up nicotine, but the last thing you want to do in your search for suitable cigarette substitutes is to eat everything within sight and end up gaining a lot of weight.

If you have to use food in place of a cigarette, choose a carrot, a celery stick, a salad or some other reasonably healthy, non-fattening food. You will notice, as you progress farther along in your recovery, that food tastes wonderful again. That's great, but don't inhale the entire chocolate cake, all right?

• Work It Out

If you exercised prior to quitting cigarettes, then keep it up. If you were not into exercise, get started immediately. One of the key things that will contribute the most to your recovery from nicotine addiction is the substitution of something healthy that will keep your mind off any nicotine cravings you may have.

• Clean Your House & Every Stitch of Clothing

In order to be successful in your attempt to stop smoking, you will need to remove the smell of tobacco or ashes from your home. This includes but is not limited to washing the walls, scrubbing every dish you own, opening every window, shampooing the carpets, and scrubbing floors. You may come across things in the years to come that still smell of tobacco smoke, but don't worry about that. It will fade until you no longer notice it. Don't fool yourself into thinking that you can permit smoking around you ever again, especially if you are seriously addicted.

Stop Smoking Tips: Final Word

After you stop smoking, you're going to feel really good about yourself. There's nothing wrong with this at all. However, the danger lies in becoming smug or superior because, after all, you stop so why can't others? Don't condemn those who still smoke. If they ask how you stop, then share your story. Give them hope. If you did it, so can they.