Can you still remember the very first time you had your first cigarette? Probably you can’t. You probably cannot even recall how many cigarettes you have already lit today. Smoking, like any other addiction, can consume a person. The main drawback of smoking is the adverse effect it has on a person’s health.
There are numerous reported cases of lung cancer caused by second hand smoking. People working in bars and restaurants who haven’t even smoked a single cigarette in their whole lives have been diagnosed with lung cancer caused by cigarette smoke. Exposure to heavy cigarette smoke at the workplace is a spiteful work hazard.
Surely, you realize that by smoking you are not only jeopardizing your own health but that of the people around you as well. Most often the people that are most affected by your addiction are the very people whom you love. Studies show that spouses of heavy smokers have a higher death rate compared with non smokers’ spouses.
How do you start? Most often the challenge for a lifetime change is gargantuan but your motivation to change should be even more enormous in order to come up victorious.
Motivation is the secret to stop smoking for good. Any technique than can keep you motivated to go on with your fight against smoking is worth trying. The following may help you get through your struggle and may actually help you get closer to your objective that is to stop smoking and live a healthier life.
1. It can help if you tell everyone around you like your friends, officemates and relatives that you are trying to stop smoking. This will serve as a control measure and places a social pressure on you to keep focused and stay with your goal. Other smokers may not like to agree with you and may not be on your side to help you get through. They probably will want you to fail because your success may put pressure on them to stop smoking as well. So be ready to face such enmity.
2. Give yourself a penalty for every cigarette that you light. This could be an unpleasant but essential chore.
3. Always remind yourself of the benefits of quitting. How quitting can give you and your loved ones longer lives to live. Think also of the penalties you are going to endure every time you fall back. Every time you are tempted to light a cigarette, picture yourself lying thin and sick with lung cancer or chronic bronchitis.
4. You will definitely save a lot of money by quitting. Think of how much money you will be saving and buy yourself a gift out of that money. Something that you would really like to have or have been wanting for years.
5. Always bear in mind that there will be times when you will feel anxious, uneasy or unable to concentrate and smoking will not be the way out of these situations. You can take a walk or jog and have some fresh air. You can go window-shopping and look for that special gift you want for yourself out of the money you will save from quitting. These will ease your tension.
6. The effects of withdrawal may make you feel horrible but always keep in mind that you will feel way much better soon.
By stopping your addiction now, you are giving yourself and those you love longer chance to live and enjoy life together.
Michael Russell
Your Independent stopsmoking-guide.com/ Stop Smoking guide.
