For many smokers, nicotine cravings or the urge to smoke are challenging to beat. Fortunately, there are various ways to quit smoking for good and avoid nicotine cravings.
The golden rule is to face and handle your cravings as they come. To do it, you need to interrupt your thoughts when the craving hits. For instance, do something different for several minutes and redirect your focus by allowing it to consume your thoughts.
Below are the other ways to resist the urge to smoke when your nicotine cravings strike:
1. Try Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
One of the best ways to stop smoking is to ask your doctor about NRT. Some options may include prescription nicotine in an inhaler, non-nicotine stop-smoking medications, and over-the-counter (OTC) nicotine gums, patches, and lozenges. Electronic cigarettes are also gaining attention as an alternative to smoking tobacco cigarettes.
All of them may help you overcome your intense cravings. However, whether you plan to use NRT or Nicotine Electronic Cigarettes , it’s wise to consult professionals for the best solution suited for you.
2. Look For Behavioural Support
Your emotional and physical dependence on cigarette smoking makes it hard to avoid nicotine after you decide to quit. To avoid smoking effectively, you need to tackle this emotional dependence.
Self-help materials, counselling services, and support services may help you get through this emotional attachment. Once your emotional symptoms improve, you’re likely to find that the physical cravings are much easier to control as well.
Behavioural support may range from written advice and information to individual counselling or group therapy online or by phone. Depending on your preferences, choose the best support services suited for your unique needs.
3. List The Reasons Why You Want To Quit Smoking
Think of how tobacco use may impact your health and create a list of the reasons why you want to quit smoking. It’s a simple affirmation to help you deal with your emotions with hard intellect.
By listing your reasons for quitting, you have an easier time focusing on the cons of smoking and remind you of the consequences and benefits of all of your actions. Writing your reasons for quitting down may also help reaffirm why you started this journey and what you need to do to succeed.
In addition, putting your reasons on paper won’t only help clarify your thoughts, but it can also prevent you from rationalising any slips you may experience. If you read your list of reasons every time you feel the urge to smoke, you could see the difference in how much progress you’re making.
4. Get Physical
Physical activities can help distract you from nicotine cravings and/or lessen their intensity. Even a short burst of physical activity, such as running up and down the stairs, doing some push-ups, skipping or the like can make you focus on something other than your craving until it subsides. If you have free time, head out for a jog or walk in the park rather than sitting down for a coffee and cigarette.
Try deep knee bends, squats, running in place, and pushups if stuck at your office or home. If you don’t like physical activities, try journaling or needlework, so long as it’s something you can focus on instead of your cravings. You can also do chores for distraction, such as filing paperwork or vacuuming.
5. Avoid Triggers
You may be more likely to smoke if you’re feeling stressed, are at a party or bar, are sipping a cup of coffee or participating in another activity you previously associated with smoking. Triggers vary from one person to another. It’s essential to determine your trigger situations and make a plan to get through them or avoid them entirely without lighting up a cigarette.
If you want to quit smoking for good, never set yourself up for a relapse. If you often smoke while you talk on the phone, have a pen and paper to occupy yourself with jotting down some things instead of smoking. If you smoke while having a coffee, you can cut down on your coffee intake, or switch to tea to try and break the habit.
6. Reward Yourself
When you decide to stop smoking, you’ll soon notice the savings, as cigarettes are extremely expensive in Australia. As you try to quit, make sure to choose a reward for yourself when you’ve succeeded. A reward may help you stay motivated and may put the money you are saving on cigarettes to much better use.
7. Practice Some Relaxation Techniques
For many smokers, having a cigarette is one of their primary ways to deal with their stress. Unfortunately, resisting nicotine cravings can be very stressful in and of itself. With this in mind, try practicing relaxation techniques, such as yoga, deep breathing exercises, visualisation, muscle relaxation, listening to calming songs or massage to lower your stress without filling your lungs with smoke.
8. Eat Healthy Snacks
When your blood sugar levels drop, you’re more likely to smoke. I cases of low blood sugar, it may become hard to distinguish between tobacco craving and sugar craving.
When you feel the urge to smoke, instead of reaching for a cigarette, try grabbing a nutritious snack like a handful of nuts or a piece of fruit. Eating fruits and vegetables may help you stop smoking.
Make sure to avoid chips, baked goods, sweets and other foods usually packed with high-fructose corn syrup, saturated fats, or refined carbs. Not only might these foods cause you to gain weight, they may also make your cravings worse and fluctuate your blood sugar levels.
9. Think Positive
Once you picture yourself as somebody you want to be (a non-smoke in this case), it can help you shape your attitude towards achieving it. With that in mind, always think positive and be happy, regardless of your progress. You may be surprised how positive thinking can impact your journey to quit smoking for good.
10. Change Your Habits
The same cafes, locations, or foods that you may associate with having a cigarette may increase your nicotine cravings or urge to smoke. For this reason, try to make new smoke-free memories. For example, if your typical breakfast is to have a cigarette and coffee, consider trying a new breakfast routine in other places. Once you break this kind of habit, you’ll be able to say goodbye to smoking forever.
11. Ask For Help From Health Professionals
It’s never easy to quit smoking for good, so never be ashamed to ask for help from a healthcare professional if you need it. A doctor or pharmacist can help you find ways to stop smoking, making things much easier for you.
Healthcare professionals can recommend suitable substitutes for cigarettes if you get a craving and assist you in creating a personalised action plan. They can also reassure you regarding the withdrawal symptoms you’re experiencing.
If you need to schedule an appointment to see a doctor , the fastest and easiest way to search and book healthcare appointments online is through MyHealth1st.