Overcome Smoking: Tips to Control Smoking

Do not just think of quitting your smoking habit. You have to actually go and perform it. For some though, the step between consideration and action can be truly tough. The goal of the following tips to control smoking is to make your efforts toward quitting easier. The process to stop smoking can be neatly categorized into 3 phases – preparation, actual quitting process, and avoiding recurrence.

In order to prepare, you need to understand exactly the damages of smoking. Gather information about it if you have to. Search the web for smoking results and all the pictures and discussions are sure to toughen your resolve. One of the useful tips to control smoking is to make a list of your very own personal reasons for quitting. Do not just list the unhealthy physical reasons. Include emotional, mental, spiritual, and social reasons. Prepare the people around you as well so that they can give you support.
It is now time to do the 2nd phase of these tips to control smoking. Do not just quit right there and then, you will only hurt yourself. Set a mindset that you will quit slowly, one less cigarette a day. Then set a target day for you to quit entirely. Change your cigarette brand to something that you do not like or to something that contains less nicotine. Do deep breaths and it would be better if you can involve someone else in your quitting regime. You can bet against your friend or you can ask a loved one to quit with you.
 
Other great tips to control smoking that belong in the 2nd phase include ways of slowly cutting down the number of sticks to smoke. You can set a limit and discipline yourself to stick to that. Or you can smoke the same number of sticks at first but always stop halfway. Keep your ashtrays un-emptied or collect the butts and ashes and place them in a jar. This will be a reminder of the dirt and harm cigarettes can give you. Break the habit of easily reaching a cigarette by putting the cigarette in a very inconvenient place. Always delay lighting your first cigarette for at least 1-2 hours.

When you’ve reached the target day, throw away all your cigarettes and cigarette paraphernalia. Once you do, you will experience withdrawal symptoms- cravings, irritability, unrest, etc. Take note that this is your body healing itself. It is now time for the 3rd phase of these tips to control smoking. You have to stay away from smoking forever. You can do this by engaging in distractions. Exercise, treat yourself as a celebration, drink water, and avoid alcohol and other caffeine-containing substances. Hold other things so you do not miss the feel of the cigarette in your hands.

Frequent non-smoking places, bask in your family and friends’ support, maintain good grooming especially brushing teeth, and try appreciating more the things around you. If you succeed, not only would it be goodbye smoking but also hello to a new and better you!