These 5 tips will surely help you quit smoking !

At Core Cancer Foundation, we understand that it’s not easy to quit. In fact most of our beneficiaries claim that quitting is the hardest thing they’ve done in their life. However, the good news is that no one has to quit alone. The journey is full of supporters and your doctor, counselor, friends, family all form a part of this support system. In this article, we’ve tried to collate some tips for you to quit smoking.

Get Ready

Getting ready helps! While any day is a good day to quit and stop smoking, it helps if you can plan in advance. You may want to fix a date, a period in your life when it won’t be too full of stress for you. In the meanwhile, cut down on smoking before this date. Get rid of lighters, ashtrays, spit cups and the likes. Talk to your family, friends and partner. Decide that you won’t let people smoke when in your house. You may want to avoid settings and friends prone to increased smoking for a short while.

Use Medicines

 Medicines can help with stress and cravings. Stress is actually one of the biggest reasons why people often return to smoking. The withdrawal symptoms at times can be too much to deal with.

Medicines can actually double your chances of quitting. Nicotine gums, patches or lozenges can be bought over the counter. You may also want to ask your doctor to prescribe medicines for you.

Going Cold Turkey

After your quit date, try not to smoke at all. Not even a single puff. Avoid smoking triggers, which could range from friends who smoke or consumption of alcohol to stress. Prevent even a slip (oh it’s just this one cigarette!) or a relapse (Don’t give up, not yet!)

Don’t keep cigarettes in your car or at your home. But most importantly, if you do slip, try to stay calm. Remember that you have made a plan, you have quit for good and that it may be hard, but it’s not impossible. As long as you’re not indulgent, you will be able to overcome temptation slowly.

Change Your Routine

Try to change your routine. For instance a lot of people tend to smoke after meals. Taking a walk instead can help. Similarly, a lot of people smoke on coffee breaks. Trying to drink herbal tea even if more than your usual numbers of coffee is an alternative you can consider. Changing your routine helps your body and mind break out of the patterns that trigger your smoking habits.

Get Support

 You can look for help with the local anti-smoking, anti – tobacco groups. Then, there are toll-free help lines, free handheld, tablet or smartphone apps, internet programs, doctors, therapists or nurses for counseling, support groups of people who have quit.

The idea is to use everything and anything as a tip to help you quit smoking and be tobacco free for life. After all, a tobacco free life is worth the effort!