Fight the urge to smoke.
While you have decided to quit smoking, you will most likely have to deal with occasional nicotine cravings, which will decrease the longer you go without smoking. Overcoming cravings can seem difficult, especially when dealing with other aspects of quitting, such as increased irritability and anxiety, insomnia, headaches and coughing. Remembering the reasons why you quit and distracting yourself with exercise and other activities are some of the main ways to control cravings.
Instructions
1. Keep yourself busy. Distraction is recommended as a method of controlling nicotine cravings, according to Quit Smoking Stop.com. Try physical activity such as going for a run, riding your bike, hiking, time on the treadmill, or any activity that gets you moving. Other methods of distraction include talking to a friend or family member, reading a book, gardening, cleaning, taking a walk through a park, watching a movie or playing with the dog.
2. Take deep breaths. Cravings generally subside in three to five minutes, according to Quit Smoking Stop, so use the time to focus on your breath work. Breathe in slowly through the nose and exhale slowly through the mouth. Other relaxing techniques to try when fighting nicotine cravings include yoga, Reiki and tai chi.
3. Drink cold water slowly and suck on the ice cubes. Sucking on the cubes will keep your mouth busy while the water will help satiate the appetite.
4. Make a list of all the reasons why you quit smoking, such as lung cancer risk, increased heart rate, yellowing of the teeth and hands and skin aging. Put your reasons on note cards that are easily portable and can be referred to any time you feel a craving coming on.
5. Replace cigarettes with gum, mints and hard candy to deal with any oral fixation issues. Healthier options include celery and carrot sticks as well as nuts and dried fruit. Reward yourself for successfully resisting the urge to smoke, such as putting aside some money every time you fight the urge for traveling or buying yourself an item you always wanted.
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