Do’s and Don’ts of Smoking Cessation
When you are attempting to stop smoking there are some do’s and don’ts that you should be careful to adhere to. If you do not, you will likely find yourself constantly relapsing. Attempting to quit smoking is hard enough and you may be sabotaging your efforts if you don’t pay attention to the do’s and dont’s of smoking cessation. We will discuss them below:
Do:
- Do Get Support: You will need support if you are going to be able to stop smoking. It will not be easy. Having someone in your corner to cheer you on will definitely help. If you can’t find anyone, be your own cheerleader. Write yourself notes or reward yourself as you reach important quitting milestones.
- Do Research Your Options: There are many different ways to quit smoking. Do a little research and determine which one will best work with your temperament, addiction and budget.
- Do Set a Quit Date: It is very easy to keep putting off stop smoking, by simply telling yourself that you will quit the next day. Well the “next day” will keep adding up until you find that months or even years have passed. To avoid this set a firm quit day.
- Do Follow Up On That Quit Date: Once you have determined your quit date, it is important that you stop smoking on that day. If you are unable to stop on your quit day, then this spells trouble as you may not be ready to start on the hard road to recovery.
- Do Journal: Often times when people smoke and attempt to quit, they don’t have anything to fill in the time and space that they previously filled with smoking. One should consider journaling, finding a hobby or something that that like to do in their spare time that is constructive to take the place of smoking.
- Do Stick With It: Attempting to stop smoking can be frustrating and stressful and it will be incredibly difficult. However, one needs to keep at it.
Now we will discuss the don’ts.
Don’t:
- Don’t Feel Overwhelmed: Anytime you’re attempting to break a habit that has a hold on you, it can be very easy to feel like it will be impossible to break it. But it is not. So don’t be overwhelmed.
- Don’t Get Down On Yourself: Feeling sorry for yourself after you have suffered a setback will be the quickest way to begin smoking again. Take it as par for the course. You may have a setback or two (or three). That’s ok. Begin again and try not to look back.
- Don’t Give Up. It will most likely take you several times of trying to quit before you actually do, but don’t give up. It is possible to kick the habit.
- Don’t Replace One Bad Habit For Another: Don’t replace smoking, with other bad habits such as drinking alcohol, taking drugs or eating excessively.
