The first step to quitting smoking is smoking. Your not going to want to quit something you don't do. I know that seems quite obvious, but hey people, we need guidance. So, if you are in deed a smoker that wants to quit, then maybe you should read on. I used to be a smoker that wanted to quit in 2003. I did quit.
Big Decision
Decide you want to quit. Truly make up your heart and mind that you want to and need to quit. Believe with every ounce of yourself that you want to and that you can quit.
The Two List Wonder
Make two lists. Grab an ink pen, a pencil, a crayon, a marker or any writing instrument you can find and a blank sheet of paper. Number your paper from 1-10 two times one list on the front and one list on the back. List one. Write down 10 reasons smoking is beneficial to you and those around you, in essence, write ten positive things about smoking and why you should keep smoking. List number two. List off 10 negative things about smoking and why you should quit.
Which list is longer?
Hard Candy, Brushing, Gum, Nicorette, or the Patch
Find an inexpensive alternative to smoking. Use to Nicorette Gum or the Patch if you must, although those may cost more up front. For me, I just used hard candy and tons of it. Hard candy and will power. I chewed lots of gum too. Better for my teeth to go than my lungs. I really didn't have any issues with my teeth from the candy though. Another thing I did to assist in quitting was every once in awhile when I had the urge to smoke I'd go brush my teeth. Toothpaste and all. It helps. Did I mention I did quit smoking in the year 2003? I found the candy, brushing my teeth, and will power to be a harm free way to quit. It worked!
Keep Keeping On
Do not give in. It will be real easy to think that you can not quit. You can. I know I know, maybe you've smoked for 10, 20, 30, or even up to 40 + years. You can quit. Smoking is a waste of money. Look at your list of 10 positives about smoking. Are there really 10? Do you really mean them? Come on now, be real. You know and I know it is hard to even come up with 5 for your positive list and easy to come up with 20 reasons for why you should quit. Keep on keeping on! You can quit! Once you choose to quit, do not go back! Move forward!
It's Cheaper To Quit
Think of all the money you'll save when and if you quit. If you want you can figure out how much you spend on smokes per day, week, month, and year. Wow! That is a lot of green!
The Trap
The trap for me was chewing tobacco. I thought I'd try to get my nicotine through absorbing it by the method of chewing. Yeah I quit smoking for awhile, but I got even more addicted to the nicotine contents of chew. Chewing administered more nicotine faster to my system. I had quit smoking for awhile, but I had to use smoking to wean myself off the chewing addiction. Do not fall into this Trap! Before I knew it I was smoking with chew in my mouth. Yuck! Well I quit chew and then advanced to quit smoking. It is great and I feel free from those addictions. You can too. Put your mind to it and you can quit and save some life and some money!
The Addiction Side of Things
From what I understand, if you go at least 30 days without smoking you beat the physical part of the addiction. That is the hard part. The first 30 days. By the physical I mean all the motions. The motions are times, conditions, and situations in which you normally used to light up. The psychological effects of smoking can last anywhere from 3 to 6 months and even up to a year. That is thoughts deep within that lead to the motions mentioned above in the physical. Get past those first thirty days and change your mind about smoking and you can make it! Think it and do it!
Happy Quitting To You!
