7 Tips for Controlling the Urge to Smoke

Trying to give up smoking can be a very drawn out procedure. It could take a lengthy period of time such as a number of months, or it could be something much shorter like only a few weeks. The precise timeframe that it takes to stop can differ significantly but what is important is making certain you are coming up with a technique to combat your urges to smoke.

At some stage in your experience attempting to stop you will come across a situation where the urge to smoke is extremely powerful. How you cope with this scenario will go a long way towards your final triumph. Being ready for the urge to smoke will ensure that you have a strategy to keep your determination strong and continue on your path to give up smoking successfully.

Tip 1. Take time to decide exactly when you typically smoke. For instance, after meals, after a jog around the block, or even after your shower each morning. Knowing when you typically smoke will put you in a good position to initiate a plan to combat the urge.

Tip 2. Create a plan of attack. This could be something as simple as a stress ball for your hands, or even just a piece of hard toffee to keep your mouth engaged. If you especially enjoy the taste and feeling of a clean mouth you could try brushing your teeth each time you want to smoke, or suck on a mint flavoured sweet, which will improve your breath.

Tip 3. Stay away from the temptations that lie in wait. If you go out to eat, be certain that you're sitting in the no smoking area. Avoid going into tobacco stores, and also try to restrict the amount of time you are around other smokers. If you are continuously around cigarettes, it will be much harder to refuse to give in to temptation.

Tip 4. Clean your house of all smoking instruments. This means all ashtrays, lighters, matches and get rid of the smell of cigarettes. Products like Febreeze are great for helping to get rid of cigarette smell, which can also initiate an urge to smoke.

Tip 5. If you have a place where you typically smoke when you are at home, think about rearranging the area. If you are able to break the routine of the situation, you will be able to resist temptation much better. This works best if you always are in the habit of smoking in the exact same place, such as a living room looking out a window. If you move the chair to a different area of the room, or refocus the center of the room then you can help to avoid the temptation to smoke whenever you are sitting in the chair looking out the window.

Tip 6. Write down your goal to give up smoking. This may seem like a minor detail but in reality, it can go a very long way towards ensuring that you keep your priority to quit smoking at the top of your agenda. If you just tell yourself that you want to quit smoking, you are more apt to cheat and eventually give into the desire to light up again. If you have written your goal down, you are going to be more likely to actually follow it. This goes for quitting smoking, losing weight, changing your exercise routine or anything else. Written down goals can improve accountability significantly.

Tip 7. Do not discount yourself. If you are totally confident that you can succeed you will be much more capable of the success that you need. It is vital to think that you can succeed. This will help you to stay strong anytime a serious urge kicks in. If you decide to slip up consciously, you are going to find it is much more difficult to gain back any slack that you have cut for yourself. However, if you hold fast to your dedication to quit smoking you will find that each time you have an urge it is easier to handle.

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