Constantly losing at not smoking? Drop the nicotine patches, bin the e-cigarettes, hold off on the hypnotherapy and give cold turkey the cold shoulder. Are you giving up for 'National No Smoking Day'? If so, give yourself the best chance with these tried and testing tips for giving up. For good.
1) We're always told, (or we tell ourselves) that giving up smoking is hard. Of course, the tobacco companies would love you to believe this! Henry Ford said "Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right". So tell yourself that you're going to find it easy. Ridiculously easy in fact.
2) Remember that the smoking is not a part of you. You'll still be just as 'you' without it, even more so. Maybe it feels like a friend, one that's always there for you in bad times and good. But would a real friend stab you in the back? Rob you of your money, time, your looks, even years of your life?
3) How many other things, that felt so important at the time, were you able to simply forget about? That favourite toy that you had as a child? That old boyfriend? Isn't it interesting how you've been able top simply 'outgrow' things, and leave them in the past. Smoking is no different.
4) Make a list of all the benefits for being a non-smoker. When trying to 'sell' an idea to yourself, the benefits approach is an absolute winner. Whether it's more money for holidays, better breath, younger skin or having clearer feeling lungs, jot them down and review them daily. Hourly if necessary! You're not giving anything up really, you're actually gaining a lot.
5) Notice what feelings lead you to smoke and try to find healthier ways to address them. Smoking because you're bored or need a break at work? Text, call or email a friend, read an interesting article online or go for a walk. Stressed...? Hungry...? Devise coping strategies for those moments.
6) What are your main triggers? For example, if you always smoke with a coffee, just exposure to the 'trigger' (coffee) will create an 'expectation' and 'need' for nicotine. Kind of like Pavlov and the dog. It's down to brain chemistry and the reward mechanism. Most people have 3 or 4 main trigger times such as stress, breaks at work or certain places or people, so identify these and either avoid the them for a while or devise a coping strategy.
The good news is that after 20 minutes your blood pressure and heart rate drop to healthier levels and after 72 hours all the nicotine is out of your body. All you have to do is to never pick up another cigarette again. One day at a time. Good luck!
To find out how to boost motivation, address triggers and change your attitude towards smoking, check out Hypnotherapy London