Contents:
- Medical Video: A simple way to break a bad habit | Judson Brewer
- How to stop smoking once and for all, and be free from temptation
- 1. Know first what makes you want to go back to smoking
- 2. Remember what made you stop smoking
- 3. Avoid the trigger
- 4. Change the hobby of smoking with others
- 5. Toothbrush routine
- 6. Think of the temptation as a mistake
- 7. Give yourself a reward if it works
Medical Video: A simple way to break a bad habit | Judson Brewer
Quitting smoking is easy. Quite often, many are tempted to smoke after successfully living monthly to yearly without a cigarette. But this does not mean you are a total failure. Don't also give in to temptation. Here are some ways to stop smoking forever, and not be tempted again to "just like that!"
How to stop smoking once and for all, and be free from temptation
1. Know first what makes you want to go back to smoking
Many smokers are used to smoking to deal with stress. If this applies to you, your body has linked cigarettes as the only way to relieve stress.
This means that if someday if there are certain situations that cause stress after you stop smoking, the possibility of wanting to return to smoking will appear and be difficult to control. Even stopping smoking is often used as a scapegoat as a cause of stress. In fact, your stress will actually decrease when you stop smoking. Research shows that ex-smokers feel more free from stress than smokers.
You can deal with stress without smoking. The trick is to find out what really makes you nervous. What are work deadlines in the office? Then, find out how to improve your work productivity so that the task can be fulfilled properly.
2. Remember what made you stop smoking
If you start to falter and be tempted to smoke again, you must hurry back to remember what the reasons for you stopped smoking. Is that because health is declining, so you can't exercise as intensely as you used to? Or because of worrying about the condition of parents, children, or wives, who are always exposed to your cigarette smoke first?
Try writing down all the list of reasons and place the list where you can see it at all times - as an ingredient for self reflection. Motivating yourself can help you not be tempted to smoke again.
Remember, changes made on the basis of self-desire alone are the highest chance of success in the long run.
3. Avoid the trigger
Usually, smokers have certain times or situations that cause them to want to smoke. For example smoking after eating, or smoking while drinking coffee waiting for inspiration.
If these are things that easily trigger you back, then fill in the free time you normally use to smoke by doing other activities. If possible, temporarily avoid other smokers. Take for example, separate from your smoker friends to walk after lunch, play games on cellphones, or wash dirty dishes immediately after eating.
Tempted to return to smoking again can be caused by the smell of cigarette smoke around you. Clothes and other types of clothing can absorb the smell of cigarettes. Wash all clothes, pants, rags, jackets that smell of cigarette smoke. If you like to smoke in a car, clean your car to be free from the residual smoke and cigarette butt trash.
4. Change the hobby of smoking with others
Keeping yourself busy is one of the effective ways to stop smoking. Looking for other activities aims to divert your mind from craving cigarettes. There are a number of things you can do to fill your spare time instead of smoking, including:
- Sports
- Take a leisurely walk out of the house
- Keep your hands busy, can play games on your mobile or computer
- Go to the movies or watch exciting TV series
- Spend time with friends and family who don't smoke
- Go to dinner at your favorite non-smoking restaurant
When you are in the process of quitting smoking, there will always be a desire to put something in your mouth. Because, you are used to sucking cigarettes so that when you do not smoke you will feel strange if there is nothing in your mouth.
Therefore, you can replace the cigarettes that you normally put in your mouth with sugar-free gum, or healthy snacks. One other unique way that can be done to overcome the difficulty of stopping smoking is to drink cold water through a straw. Inhaling cold water through a straw will also release dopamine which is a brain chemical that can help alleviate a bad mood.
5. Toothbrush routine
Usually, smokers have the smell of musty breath like the smell of cigarettes. Therefore, one of the good things that you get when trying to quit smoking is clean teeth and mouth breath that feels fresher especially when you brush your teeth frequently.
If you routinely brush your teeth and always have fresh breath, you will feel sorry to dirty them again with cigarette sucking.
6. Think of the temptation as a mistake
Don't blame yourself when it comes to wanting to smoke or even smoking a cigarette. Everyone is wrong, even when they are on the right path. This is normal.
However, make the moment a reflection and to promise not to repeat the same mistakes.
7. Give yourself a reward if it works
When you have succeeded in not smoking at all, it's a good idea to reward yourself. For example, money that was only spent on buying cigarettes, you can set aside and collect. In total up to a year to stop smoking, you can take a vacation or buy items that you like with the savings. You should celebrate your release from the puff of cigarette smoke.
