Quitting Smoking
Letting go of that last cigarette can be disheartening for someone who’s been addicted to it. Quitting smoking is not an easy task and requires lots of courage and patience, not only by the smoker but also from people around him. If you are one of the lucky few who have decided on quitting smoking, I’m sure anyone would say that it was one of the best decisions to make in life.
Addictions are hard to stop. But if you do try to stop it can invoke feelings such as fear and that is quite normal. But you must not let this fear control you and stop you from making the most important decision in life. Remember that although the fight to overcome your bad habit takes time and your patience, in the long run it is definitely worth the effort.
Quitting smoking can take place with the follow up of three basic steps. The first step is to get ready. This can be done by setting up a specific date where you will actually begin your ‘quitting smoking’ process. Try your best to change the atmosphere of where you live in. What would you normally expect in a house of a smoker? Yes, you guessed it. It would obviously be filled up with cigarettes, ashtrays, etc. If you search properly, cigarette buds,etc would be found not only inside the house, but in the car and even the workplace. If you really want to stop smoking, make sure that there aren’t more people in your house who share the same bad habit.
The second step is to get support. Giving up smoking can be a difficult task. It needs your will power, as well as the support and encouragement of your peers, your family, etc. You can’t expect anyone to know that you want to stop smoking unless you tell them that you are on the road to quitting smoking and are in need of their help. This can be done by telling them not to smoke or leave cigarettes around you. If you have a doctor or a psychologist, get support from them. Today there are many counselling sessions that are conducted free of charge for people who are willing to quit smoking. So if you are also in the same category, it is best to get information regarding such places and try to enrol in such a program.
Quitting smoking can be a very trying situation as it can be difficult to distract our body from the urge to smoke, when we have been doing it for a long time. This is where the third step comes into practice. Learning new skills and behaviours can help the person who is trying very hard to overcome these urges. Changing the daily routine, going out for a walk, get busy, and this will keep your mind away from what you are trying to stop. Each day can be an adventure if a good plan is initiated to doing something new and enjoyable. Whilst doing all this, make sure to gather knowledge by reading books on ways that will assist you in the process of quitting smoking.
