How to Quit Smoking for a Day

There are fewer and fewer places where smokers can smoke. This can pose a problem to smokers because they feel ostracized while having to find a place where they are allowed to smoke. Since cigarettes are still legal smokers do have a right to smoke, but sometimes they just shouldn't do it. Here is how to make it through the day when you cannot have a cigarette. How do I know these tricks work? I have used these techniques because I'm a smoker.

The Psychological Factor and Smoking

Everyone knows about the physical addiction of cigarettes but only smokers can understand the psychological addiction. Some people will literally panic when they know they can't have a cigarette. You need to understand that not smoking will not drive you mad or turn you into a crazed lunatic.

Before an event when you cannot smoke, tell yourself aloud if you have to, that you will not smoke until you leave. If you believe this your desire for a cigarette will be much less or completely gone. But I can almost guarantee that as soon as you leave you will want a cigarette.

I know of a mom who hates to go on field trips because the thought of not smoking for that length of time makes her crazy. She worries that she will turn into a psychotic chaperone. She is missing out on a fun part of her kids' lives by worrying about smoking. After I told her that I go twelve hours without a cigarette whenever I'm at work she calmed down and agreed to go. She had a great time and she said that she didn't even think about smoking because she knew she couldn't have a cigarette.

Eliminating the Physical desire for Cigarettes

So now that you have yourself psyched up to not smoke you may still be worried about the physical addiction to nicotine. This problem is easily solved. Buy a box of nicotine patches and keep them in your medicine cabinet. Put on a patch when you know that you need to go without smoking for an extended period of time.

Seven patches cost around $20. This is a cheap way to temporarily curb your nicotine craving. If you don't want to fork over the money for the patches then consider a nicotine gum or even regular gum. Just chewing will help your craving.

Remember that when using a patch or even nicotine gum that you absolutely cannot smoke. The increased level of nicotine in your body may increase the possibility of a stroke or heart attack. The nicotine will stay in your body for several hours after the patch is removed. Also, if using a patch then you need to use the correct nicotine dosage. Read the box and all instructions and warnings before applying it.

I know that non-smokers are thinking that if a smoker can control their craving for a day then why can't they just quit? Some people don't want to quit while others just feel too weak to do it. The smoker has to have the desire to quit, whether it's for the rest of their lives or just for a few hours.