While the negative effects of smoking are well known, we often ignore the positive sides, such as health and money, to name a few. That being said, there is no time like today so, let's get started with some tips on how to improve your lifestyle, and build a better you.
1. Break the habit
Humans are creatures of habit and, this applies to smoking as well. You can often catch yourself having a smoke as part of your daily ritual. For example, while you are drinking your morning coffee. Or maybe after a meal. Smoking addiction is heavily tied to your daily routine, so taking a step back and looking at when you take a smoke is of great importance. Then, substitute it with something else. You can go for a walk after you eat, focus on reading a book, or delving into a hobby.2. Start making healthy habits
As you throw away your cigarettes and lighter, you need to change a couple more things. Ashtrays should be gone as well but, we are talking about the bigger picture. Cleaning your entire home of cigarette smoke. Starting with your bedsheets, curtains, clothes, furniture, and pretty much everything. You are starting to expel cigarettes not just from you but from your life.Years of smoking have embedded them into your surroundings and, the very smell of them can lead to relapse. You need all the help that you can get in the beginning and, this change will lead to a more pleasant living environment.
3. Use substitutes
Going cold turkey on this can be a challenging affair but, help is everywhere. Your body is craving nicotine and, the good news is that it's available from far less harmful sources. After all, nicotine withdrawal can be pretty harsh with headaches, fatigue, dehydration, etc. and, there is no reason to put yourself thru needless suffering. Nicotine patches are, literally, a quick band-aid on this thing. Gums and various mouth sprays also do the trick.But if you are simply yearning for the feeling of having something in your hands and smoking it, there is a solution for this as well. Vapes with cheap and quality e cig juice are a perfect alternative that can be ideal for when you are trying to quit smoking. The bonus here is that you can pick and choose your preferred flavor and, the smell is much better than regular cigarettes.
4. Surround yourself with allies
Being around people that are currently smoking can make things difficult. It's easy to relapse and then ask for a single cigarette from them. But, being around people that don't smoke eliminates this risk. Also, your friends and family can be here to help you along the way, and turning to them for help and assistance is recommended. Also, there are trained doctors and professionals in the field that you can reach out to. Many support groups exist and, you should never feel that you are alone in this fight for a better life.5. Strengthen your body and mind
We mentioned having a healthy lifestyle but, it's important to note that working out can heavily overpower cigarette addiction. Your body will cleanse itself way quicker and expel the toxins with physical exercise. Gym membership is many times cheaper than your monthly smoking bill while benefits from it are hard to quantify.Walking, running, biking, camping, or any other form of activity is welcome, and you should opt for the one that seems the most appealing for you. As for your mind and willpower, just taking the first step is paramount and admitting that you have a smoking addiction that you want to get rid of. Also, it doesn't hurt to read up on the matter of how to stop smoking and, there is no shortage of material to be found.
6. Prevent the munchies
One known fact about people that are quitting smoking is that they gain weight. Because smoking reduces your appetite and, once it's gone, craving settles in. Your hands and mouth need to gnaw at something, which is understandable. In this case, you should always opt for water, which is always beneficial, or having lesser meals more often. About five per day, evenly spread is much better than gorging yourself on one or two.And that's it. These simple steps are an excellent jumping board for starting your quest for a cigarette-free life. Improvements will come in the first week and, and then every day you will feel better as it gets easier. The change starts with you and, we have no doubt that you will succeed. Best of luck.