Smoking is a difficult habit to crack, even if you’ve not been a smoker for long, so for those who have been smoking for many years, quitting is even more difficult as the habit has become completely ingrained into their everyday life. Quitting smoking for many long-term, heavy smokers often means a complete lifestyle change and could even alienate them from their friends, such as fellow smokers whom they meet up with on their break at work. But, the longer you smoke, the more health problems it will cause — and these are serious, with COPD, emphysema, coronary heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer all being related to smoking. So, we’ve listed some top tips to help you quit, no matter how long you’ve been smoking for.
Tip #1. Switch to Vaping:
There’s a reason why vaping is such a popular method for smokers looking for nicotine replacement therapy — switching to an e-cigarette doesn’t mean that you’ll have to change much at all. Since you can purchase e-liquid that contains nicotine but none of the other harmful chemicals associated with smoking such as tar and carbon monoxide, you can continue to ‘smoke’ but without taking in these toxins on a daily basis. Along with that, e-liquid is much cheaper and can be purchased less often than traditional cigarettes. With so many options available, it’s no surprise that more and more smokers are making the switch. You can vape traditional tobacco flavours or have fun with your favourite deserts, and much more. Check out the vaping options available at greyhaze.co.uk where you will find a range of vaping products, including e-liquids and vaping accessories.
Tip #2. Try Other Nicotine Replacement Therapies:
Although vaping is growing rapidly in popularity, there are several other nicotine replacement therapy options that you might want to try in your bid to quit smoking for good. Many nicotine replacement therapies can be used alongside or in conjunction with vaping to help you make the most of them. For example, nicotine gum is an excellent choice for those who work long hours and might not be able to get out to the smoking area to vape as often as they would like to. It’s safe and discreet to use in public when it comes to curbing your cravings. Nicotine inhalers are another popular option since they can be used in public spaces, making them perfect for long flights or train rides. Or, you could try wearing a nicotine patch — this can quickly be forgotten about, allowing you to get on with your day without the interruption of cravings.
Tip #3. Join a Support Group:
If you are worried about the impact that quitting smoking will have on your social life, then it’s a good idea to join a stop smoking support group. Here you will be able to meet many new friends who also have the same goal as yourself — to finally crack their smoking habit — so it’s less likely that your social life will suffer. Don’t forget, if any of your friends are also talking about quitting smoking, inviting them to your support group could be the push in the right direction that they need. If there are no suitable stop smoking support groups in your area, why not consider starting your own? Thanks to the power of social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter, it’s become easier than ever to find people near you who have the same kind of goals and objectives when it comes to leading a healthier life. Plus, it’s a great way to meet more people in your area and make new friends.
Tip #4. Reward Yourself:
One of the best things about quitting smoking is the money that you will save. Even if you switch from cigarettes to vaping, the difference in price can be immense. Because of this, you’ll be able to spend a little extra money on treating yourself, for example, buying yourself something nice to wear with the money that you’ve saved on cigarettes, or even booking a trip somewhere! Using the money that you save for something nice, or even watching it pile up in savings, can be very satisfying and motivating. You could come up with motivational strategies, such as putting a pound away in a money-box for each craving that you successfully resist, or even putting the amount that you’d normally spend on cigarettes on a daily basis into a savings account, watching the money grow over the next few weeks or months.
Tip #5. Download an App:
Today, we would be lost without our smartphones, and there truly is an app available for almost anything that you’d like to do with your life. When it comes to quitting smoking, you can quickly harness the power of smartphone applications to help keep yourself on the straight and narrow. Check your smartphone’s app store to see which ones are available to you. Using an app, you’ll be able to keep track of how many cigarettes you haven’t smoked based on data you’ll provide from back when you smoked on a daily basis. In addition to that, you’ll be able to enter how much a packet of cigarettes usually costs you, allowing you to keep an eye on just how much money you are saving over time. Many apps will also allow you to track your health and wellbeing, providing valuable information on how your risk of deadly conditions such as heart disease and lung cancer is shrinking. Having all this information at your fingertips is certainly a great way to stay motivated!
Tip #6. Get Support from Family and Friends:
Whether your family and friends tend to come out with you for a cigarette or have been trying to get you to quit smoking for ages, getting their support is certainly invaluable when it comes to cracking this habit. It’s a good idea to speak to those closest to you and let them know your plans to quit; you can then come up with ideas on how they can best support you in reaching these goals. For example, family members and friends who already smoke might be able to agree not to smoke in your presence, or maybe they’ll be able to try and quit with you so that you can support each other. Either way, getting support from those closest to you is often the most important factor for your success.
Tip #7. Give Yourself a Reason:
Last but not least, those who have a valid reason for quitting smoking tend to do the best. Perhaps you’re worried about the effect that your smoking is going to have on your children, or maybe you’re concerned about your own health. If you have had a health scare that could have been prevented by quitting smoking, don’t ignore it — it’s a sign that your body needs you to do something. Maybe your reason is that you’re spending far too much money on smoking and would like a little bit more financial freedom in your life. The reason itself doesn’t really matter — if it’s personal to you, means a lot and will motivate you to quit, then stick with it.
Have you successfully cracked a long-term smoking habit? Share your top tips for quitting smoking in the comments below!
