Four steps to quit smoking successfully

You are a smoker. You desperately want to quit smoking, but you can’t. As if the cigarette pack has glued to your palm and there’s no way to get rid of it. It’s a lost cause.
Is it really?

There are no impossible things. Whether it is landing on the Moon or quit nicotine after decades of smoking… Everything is possible. You only need a strong will and determination, as well as to follow some rules. At least that’s what the experts say. Below their recommendations are listed:
1. Pick up the right time to quit smoking.
Don’t try to quit smoking on holidays, when a major event in your life is coming or in any circumstances which may increase the level of stress in your life. Throw out all the tobacco stuff you have at home, your office and your car. Also get rid of everything that may remind you of smoking. Inform your family and friends about your decision to quit smoking, ask them to be patient and to support you, in order to cope better with your addiction.

2. Do a research about the medication available on the market
Nicotine patches provide your organism with the amounts of nicotine it needs, without you having to smoke to supply it. Another successful method to substitute the harmful habit are the nicotine chewing gums. This method is particularly useful for people who have the so called “oral fixation”, i.e. when smoking has predominantly turned into a physical habit.
The nicotine inhaler sprays nicotine but without the harmful carbon monoxide contained in cigarettes. Also there are several types of pills which can substitute cigarettes and help you quit smoking.

3. Try and do your best to survive the first week
The first week is the most critical throughout the entire therapy. People who survived the first week without reaching out for a cigarette have a much better chance to succeed. Here are some advices which can help you go through this difficult period:
- It would be good if you had some physical substitutes for the cigarettes to deceive your habit, such as toothpicks, sunflower seeds, chewing gums, carrots, Lollipops, etc.
- Analyze your daily life and find out which activities provoke the desire to smoke at a biggest level. Try to eliminate these activities from your life completely.
- Have at least 2 liters of water every day. Replace the morning coffee with a cup of milk, fruit juice or tea.
- Do sports with no regard of the type of sporting activity. If you haven’t done it befor, now is the perfect time to start.
- Encourage yourself. Your efforts deserve to be rewarded. Do something special only for yourself.

4. How to remain a non-smoker
The fact that you haven’t smoked for a week doesn’t men you quit smoking. Therefore you must continue following the above recommendations so that you can pass second phase. Here are some more helpful tips:
- Make a list of your motives to quit smoking and always keep it with you.
- Practice taking deep breaths. When you feel like smoking again, take a deep breath and slowly count to ten.
- Avoid stressful situations as much as possible. This will increase your chances to succeed.
Do not smoke! Don’t light a single cigarette, don’t pull even once. This may turn you back right where you started.