Despite years of anti-smoking campaigning, cigarettes and other tobacco based products continue to kill thousands of people in the US alone every year.
Smoking is a habit that’s notoriously difficult to break, but it is certainly achievable as long as you have a pre-determined strategy and remain disciplined in the face of difficulty and temptation.
In this article, we’ll give you 4 great tips to help you quit smoking for good so you can lead a healthier lifestyle and kick this unpleasant, expensive habit.
Why smoking is bad for you
Before moving onto how to quit smoking, it’s a good idea to first outline why smoking is so harmful to your body.
Whether it’s cigarettes, shisha or other tobacco based products, smoking is bad for us because it damages our lungs and can lead to lung cancer, in addition to other types of cancer. This is because tobacco is carcinogenic (cancer causing), and even aside from cancer, smoking any type of product is believed to be bad for our lungs.
If you’ve tried to quit smoking before, you’ll know that it is very difficult. This is because cigarettes contain nicotine, a highly addictive chemical, and so when you stop smoking cigarettes, your body begins to experience withdrawal symptoms.
4 tips to quit smoking
Gradually cut down
While some people are able to quit smoking by immediately stopping and braving it out until their cravings go away for good, many people find it easier to gradually cut down the number of cigarettes they smoke per day until they can eventually stop smoking altogether.
This is a good idea if you’re an especially heavy smoker, but it’s still worth trying to cut it out completely first as that can save you a lot of time and help you quit smoking much more quickly.
Use nicotine pouches
Nicotine pouches are a great tool when trying to quit smoking. The reason they are so effective is because they allow your body to get the exact same chemical it’s addicted to without you smoking cigarettes and damaging your lungs.
You can take nicotine in a pouch or other forms, and it may be tobacco derived or synthetically produced.
Ideally, you don’t want to have to rely on nicotine pouches forever, but they aren’t inherently bad for your health.
Avoid temptation
For many people, smoking is a social thing, so avoiding settings where you’ll feel very tempted to smoke is a no-brainer, especially in the first few weeks of trying to quit.
Furthermore, you shouldn’t keep cigarettes in your house or car, as this will provide you with added pressure and temptation to smoke.
Stay disciplined
Keeping your eyes on the prize and remembering why you’re trying to quit smoking will help you stay on track and remain disciplined. It’s easier said than done, but maintaining discipline is crucial when trying to quit smoking, even if you follow all our other tips.