7 Simple Steps to Quit Smoking

Take smoking for example. Do you remember your first cigarette? If you are like most people it was not a satisfying experience. Dizzy, cold sweats, and nausea are what generally come to mind. Oh and don't forget about that gut wrenching cough either. Yet we persisted with our determination to become a smoker. We worked, well smoked and hacked, through those awkward first few packs in order to perfect our new hobby. Now for the ironic part. Years later we have decided for one reason or another to quit smoking. It might be societal or family pressure. Perhaps it is frowned upon in our career. Or believe it or not the decision to quit might be based on concern for our health. Whatever the reason, it is a wise one by the way, quitting smoking is darn hard. See the irony? Hard to start, hard to quit. But just as you successfully started,with some determination you too can successfully quit. Lets look at a few strategies to help you kick the habit.

Before you begin, you must get in the right frame of mind. Cigarette addiction is both physiological and psychological. In order to quit smoking you must be mentally prepared to. I had tried two times to quit, both attempts succeeded for about three to six months. Then BAM, I was back to a pack a day, more on the weekends. What finally led me to quit for good was my doctor sending me for a chest x-ray. Scared the you know what out of me. I went home to my wife and our young daughter and decided then and there that my last cigarette had already been smoked. Step one, PREPARE MENTALLY.

Next item is to make a strategy. For me it was using the patch. Others have had success with nicotine gum, hypnosis, or the no holds barred cold turkey approach. They all work, but you need to find the one that is right for you. I liked the patch because it was effortless. Get out of the shower in the morning, take the old one off and pop the new one on. It allowed me to overcome the craving for nicotine, which is the physiological side of the addiction. Step two, FIND A STRATEGY.

Number three is crucial, see step one. Yes the whole mental concept. This thing is hard to do. Get tough mentally and stay tough. Keep reminding yourself of why you want or need to quit smoking. Some people write down their reasons for quiting and tape it to their bathroom mirror as a reminder and reinforcement first thing in the morning. Those who smoke in their cars could also tape a copy to their dashboard. Step four, GET TOUGH AND STAY TOUGH.

Reward yourself. It is not easy to quit smoking, give yourself more than a pat on the back. I like to golf, so the money I spent on smoking went into a jar. This was my golf fund. At today's cigarette prices it would not take long to buy that new driver or bag. Maybe your reward could be dinner at a nice restaurant, or going to a day spa. Some people put their cigarette money into a vacation fund. Step five, REWARD YOURSELF.

Find a substitute. No not a teacher! Find something to take the place of smoking. Gum, hard candy, a straw or toothpick. You need something to occupy your hands and mind, especially during those times of day when you smoked the most. For me driving in the car was smoke time. So in the car I kept a plastic bag filled with drinking straws which I had cut in half. When the urge for a cigarette started I would grab a straw. It worked. Step six, FIND A SUBSTITUTE.

Finally, now that you are doing something positive for your body by quitting smoking why not take it a step further? Exercise is a great way to kick the habit, and stay kicked. You do not need to train for a triathlon, although that would be really awesome. Start slow. Join a gym, buy some exercise DVDs or a stationary bike. Or simply take a walk after dinner. You will be amazed at how your breathing improves. By exercising you will be reinforcing your desire to quit and to lead a healthier life. One word of caution, consult your physician before starting any exercise program. Step seven, EXERCISE.

For additional help in quitting smoking try surfing the web. The Internet has loads of information available. Two very good sites are http://www.smokefree.gov and http://www.anti-smoking.org. They both can provide you with excellent resources.

The decision to quit smoking is the right one, albeit not easy. By reading this article you are on the right path. Stick with it and you will be thanking yourself for years to come. Good luck!