Smoking is a dangerous and unhealthy habit, but due to its addictive nature, it can be very hard to quit smoking. Many people try again and again to kick the habit, but find themselves backsliding and picking up a pack of cigarettes again. The following tips should help you finally quit smoking for good.

Get your loved ones to support you in your decision of kicking your bad smoking habit. It’s critical, however, that they understand that you want positive support, not reproach. Also, warn them that you may be bad-tempered in the beginning and that your judgment may be somewhat cloudy. Quitting smoking is a real challenge, and you’re going to need support to succeed.

When you are quitting smoking, you need to avoid the triggers that you always associated with smoking. You may associate smoking with driving or reading. Take a look at how you can change the way you do these things, so that the associations are weaker and do not make you think of cigarettes. Get another distraction then.

Boost your capacity to deal with nicotine withdrawal, by using healthy methods of coping with its side effect of stress. This could translate to making appointments for activities, like the gym or spa, during the hours when your nicotine cravings are at their peak. When you’ve got downtime, distract yourself with friends, books and games, so you don’t think of smoking.

It is important to realize that although cold turkey may work for one person, it may not work for you. People think that they can quit smoking on their own and only end up going back because they tried too much, too fast. You may require an aid for quitting, such as a nicotine patch.

Have a friend or family member quit who smokes quit at the same time as you. Just like other things in life, such as losing weight, quitting is easier when someone else knows where you are coming from. The two of you can share tips or just vent to each other.

Remember that false starts are common when people try to quit smoking. Even if you’ve tried and failed to quit before, you should always keep trying. Ultimately, any reduction in your smoking habit is good for you, so as long as you are trying to quit you are improving your life and health.

Always keep in mind that there is only one outcome from taking another puff of a cigarette. That outcome is smoking again at the level that you were at, until the habit cripples you and you are in the hospital dying. This is a scary truth that will help you stay on track.

When you are fighting the urge to smoke, go and do some exercise. Not only will your body benefit while you are keeping fit, the physical activity can help to keep the urges at bay. Anything that can be used as a distraction while you are working through the crave is a great tool to use.

If you quit smoking and slip up, do not beat yourself up or assume that you’ll never succeed. Many former smokers quit and relapse several times before it finally sticks for good. Pay close attention to what may have triggered a relapse, learn from the experience, and give it another shot promptly.

Increasing the amount of exercise you do can help you quit smoking. Exercise not only distracts you from smoking, but it also helps to reverse all the damage you have done to your body over the years by smoking cigarettes. Start slowly if you have to, and gradually increase the amount of exercise you do each day.

Master stress management. Aside from nicotine withdrawal and simple habit, a primary reason you might start smoking again is stress. If you can’t avoid all stress during the first few weeks after quitting, do whatever it takes to manage your stress in another way than having a cigarette. Get a massage or try a yoga class. Find something new and healthy to replace what you’re giving up.

Find support groups, either locally or in the online community. Tons of websites exist solely for helping their members kick the habit. It may be helpful or even cathartic to share quitting frustrations and successes with others who understand your struggle. Not to mention, there are those whom have already completed this troublesome journey and simply wish to offer a helping hand from experience and proven results.

As any smoker knows, trying to quit can be a very frustrating experience. The advice and information you have read in this article should have given you some tools you can use to reduce this frustration and make some real progress towards quitting smoking. Make use of these tips to give up this habit for good.

Proven Strategies That Will Help You Quit Smoking was originally published on Spring