Remember the last puff you inhaled and that packet of cigarettes which you finished…well, congratulations, it shortened your life by another eleven minutes! In spite of knowing the fact that that smoking is so badly harmful for human health, why do people smoke? Is it a symbol of charisma, machoism, or does it makes a person trendy and cool? It is time that people take a serious check on this habit and kick it out of their lives, forever. This article will help to explain some of the side effects and importance for kicking this addiction.
To begin with, most people who even think of quitting smoking need the reasons to do so and gladly try and avoid them This is also an addiction, much like cocaine, heroin and other drugs, only in a cigarette; it is tobacco that you smoke. The nicotine in the tobacco is chiefly responsible for inducing the addiction. So after the last cigarette that you smoked, slowly your cravings for more begin to increase and reach a point that you become a pack-a-day smoker. This too rises and within no time, a cigarette is something permanent between your fingers. Here are a few devastating effects that you might want to consider.
Firstly, it increases the chance of lung cancer and many other lung ailments by almost 50% and a heart attack by 40%. In fact, 90% of deaths due to lung cancer and lung diseases are attributed to smoking and in America alone, this is responsible for the death of almost 500,000 people every year. Moreover, almost $200 billion is spent on heath care for smoking related ailments. Sleep disturbances, irritability, nervous disorders, breathing problems and a whole cartload of diseases like infertility, improper digestion accompany this so called “cool” habit.
The facts on smoking are abundant and straight-forward and all of them have a common link – death. Smoking kills. Apart from this, these are plenty of reasons to quit smoking and if you want to hear more, you could start by asking the relative of a man who has died from smoking, you may want shut your ears then. Who knows, you might be the one on that death bed. Therefore, I believe that the time has come for you to quit. But then where does one begin to quit smoking?
There is no denying how damaging smoking is to the human body. In the past, people have debated on the side effects of this nasty habit. However, there is no longer any debate, and everyone is on the same page with how deadly those little cigarettes really are. Yet, despite these facts, people continue to push on in their habits rather than looking for ways to separate themselves from this habit that has taken the lives of so many and put so much pain on the lives of individuals across the world. If you are looking for a way to get smoking out of your life, this guide of 21 tips will help you along your way.
Some people may find the ten steps listed in a previous article, not simple steps but really difficult hurdles to climb. These people have a success rate of ……well! Such people usually are not successful. What is more important is that the majority of smokers wanting to quit fall into this category. But this does not mean that they cannot quit smoking. What they can do is follow a really simple, though long and time-consuming strategy consisting of minor changes in the life of that person.
I have compiled another list of short ways to tackle the problem effectively.
21 TIPS FOR QUITTING SMOKING
1. First of all, prepare yourself for the situation mentally. You could do this by thinking of other difficult hurdles that you have crossed in the past or maybe, you could think of this as a crucial challenge which must be completed. Spend a few days, only thinking about quitting. Think of death, hospitals and the difficulties ahead.
2. Finally, mark out a date on the calendar when you will begin the process. Make it seem as the most important day in your life. Do the following until D-Day.
3. Before actually beginning, read all lists like these and then prepare your own ways. Be creative and think up of logical approaches to tackle the problem.
4. Take advice from doctors and friends and other people who have quit smoking before. Tell every one you know about your decision to quit smoking. If you think of failing mid-way, fear if ridicule will keep you right.
5. Write down reasons of why you suddenly want to quit. Think of the life which will be restored and the good health you will be in. in fact, make your list of 21 reasons for quitting smoking and read these everyday.
6. On the day prior to your quit day, make a huge bonfire on cigarettes and take a pledge of quitting smoking.
7. You can even hold a small ceremonial occasion when you smoke that “last cigarette”. Invite friends over for a get-together or a dinner.
8. The whole idea behind these is to make this decision seem the most important of your life. Do everything you can to make it seem like one. You will probably realize of a positive change within yourself.
9. Come the day of quitting, start it on a happy or positive note. Keep yourself as away from stress as you can. Go on a small weekend holiday perhaps.
10. Then start off the challenge by setting right, slowly and steadily, all those bad habits from your lifestyle. Until now, you have not really done anything so difficult; you have only prepared yourself for the challenge.
11. In the morning itself, sit down and visualize. Imagine about the day when you become a non smoker. Think about all the advantages it will leave in your way.
12. You could probably start a deep breathing routine of five minutes and then increase the time.
13. Most smokers don’t exercise. Begin by doing so. Begin a religious work out at an expensive gym. The money you pay for the membership will keep you from leaving and after a while you will enjoy the health benefits. You can start from a half an hour program of 2 to 3 times a week and then increase it to 5 to 6 times over a few months. However, seek advice from a physician before joining one.
14. Visit the dentist and get your teeth polished. After the stain removal, you will like the way you smile! Another incentive to quit. Plan to keep your teeth this way.
15. Visit the smoking area in your club or office and search for another person who is trying to quit. Two heads are better than one and this quitting buddy will be a big help for motivation and companionship.
16. There are two common ways of quitting- one is the gradual process and the other is the “Cold Turkey” method or the abrupt way. After a few weeks of quitting, you will realize which will work best for you. Stick to one however.
17. When you are on the journey of quitting, celebrate milestones. For example, after a week, eat out. After a fortnight, go to a party. After a month, go on a vacation. Celebrate your decision with these joys as they will then work like magic. You could even celebrate your “Quitting Anniversary” with a party.
18. Avoid things which trigger your desire to smoke. Go in for alternatives to keep in your hand, like straws, artificial cigarettes, or even a hand grip.
19. Drink lots and lots of water and fluids to cleanse your system of toxic poisons and nicotine remnants in your body.
20. Plan out charts in which you may record the average cigarette intake and how many you plan to cut with each passing week. Gradually decrease the amount you smoke. Spend time on other things to keep yourself occupied.
21. Finally, don’t falter midway – finish what you started. Think of your milestones, achievements, the positive changes and many other things imparted to you after quitting smoking.
Good Luck to all those people who plan to quit smoking and bring, perhaps the most important change in their life by bidding adieu to that white stick of death.
