my country has a huge number of smokers, and the allure of cigarettes is undeniable. Some people realize the harm of smoking and want to quit, but usually they can't resist after a week or two and start smoking again, ending their attempts to quit repeatedly in failure. So, what is the most effective way to quit smoking?
Real experiences of quitting smoking shared by netizens
Rely on yourself and have unwavering faith.
Originally, I disliked smoking from the beginning. However, due to the emptiness, boredom, and laziness of my university years, I quickly became a loyal smoker. After graduation, I continued, basically smoking a pack a day. Later, after repeated persuasion from my parents, I finally decided to quit. I've been smoking for about six or seven years. Of course, at the beginning, I tried many times but failed, mainly because I lacked firm resolve and couldn't resist the temptation. After several failures, I made up my mind again. Therefore, first and foremost, you must rely on yourself; firm resolve and perseverance are the foundation of success.
Rely on others, such as family members, for supervision.
Besides relying solely on yourself, when you feel like giving up, you need to rely on others. As mentioned earlier, my girlfriend's support and supervision had a very positive effect. At the same time, the supervision from my parents was also indispensable. When they heard my idea, they were overjoyed and selflessly supported me; their support was quite intimidating at the time. Therefore, relying on yourself and others forms a comprehensive approach to quitting smoking.
Caution: Supervision cannot rely on brothers, especially brothers who smoke.
Speaking of relying on others, I must especially mention my experience of failure: never rely on a foolish friend, especially a smoking friend. Just when you're about to succeed, they'll tempt you in every way possible, dragging you back down the drain. You're completely powerless, utterly powerless. Anyone else feel that way? Just one cigarette, just one, and you're completely finished.
Choose a step-by-step approach and gradually reduce the amount.
If someone says they're quitting smoking, that they won't smoke a single cigarette starting tomorrow, fellow smokers know that's the last thing you should believe. Within half a day, you'll see them back in some corner, smoking again. Sigh, because I used to be that kind of person, it's a long story. At most, I could hold back for half a day, and then I'd have this feeling: wanting to work late into the night, running out of cigarettes, and then running around at 3 a.m. to buy more, only to find none. The anxiety was unbearable! From then on, whenever I had to work overtime, I'd stock up on cigarettes. So, the scientific way to quit smoking is to gradually reduce the amount, step by step. For people like us who have smoked for many years, suddenly quitting completely is bad for both our physical and mental health. My previous schedule was like this: 1 day/pack -> 2 days/pack -> 4 days/pack -> 1 week/pack -> 2 weeks/pack -> 1 month/pack. The later packs were basically just snacks. The earlier packs took longer, and each transition required a considerable amount of time. I started using a female friend who bought cigarettes from me; she'd send me a pack every day/every two days/week. She's so kind, isn't she?
Try to minimize the time you spend alone, as cravings are most likely to kick in when you're alone.
As I mentioned earlier, everything seemed quite relaxed and similar, right? Actually, otherwise, there will always be times when the craving for cigarettes kicks in, and that's extremely painful, especially when you're alone. It's particularly easy to craving them then; I'm sure everyone feels that way. Therefore, try to avoid spending too much time alone; that's much better.
Try to stay away from places where smoking occurs.
The stairwell to our company restroom is a smoking area, where colleagues smoke and chat nonchalantly every day. I used to be one of them, and thinking back, those were such carefree and happy times. Every time I passed that place, I felt an intense urge to smoke. We can't afford to offend them, and we can't avoid them either, so we try to stay away from smoking areas.
When craving cigarettes, the things that distract you are usually things that are done together by multiple people.
Let's talk about when the cravings hit. The most intense cravings are when I'm alone, at least that's how it is for me. At these times, trying to distract yourself is ineffective. Any activity done alone-listening to music, watching TV, taking a walk-anything that's done alone will intensify the cravings. You absolutely must find someone to do something with to distract you, especially a family member or sibling to keep an eye on you. Having someone like that around is incredibly effective; trust me. Drink plenty of water and exercise more.
Drinking plenty of water and exercising are not only necessary when quitting smoking, but also have a positive effect on quitting smoking and improving physical fitness. Especially the respiratory system; you'll feel a significant difference when you train and smoke less. Throughout my smoking cessation process, I developed an excellent habit that I still maintain: waking up an hour earlier every morning to run for half an hour, taking a shower when I get home, and then going to work feeling energetic and refreshed.
As for aids to quit smoking, such as chewing gum or e-cigarettes, it varies from person to person.
Finally, let's talk about some other methods. I think these might be related to personal preference and don't have much effect on quitting smoking. For example, chewing gum or using e-cigarettes when craving a cigarette-I personally didn't find them effective. I've never bought e-cigarettes, but I've tried chewing gum and didn't feel anything. So, ultimately, the most effective methods are your own strong will, the supervision of family members and those who truly care about you, a scientific approach to quitting smoking, a step-by-step process, and perseverance. If you want to quit smoking, believe in yourself; you can definitely do it.
Ten helpful ways to quit smoking
Strong tea smoking cessation method
Drinking tea is good for your health, and it can certainly help you quit smoking. It's recommended that whenever you feel the urge to smoke, brew yourself a strong cup of tea and drink it; it will have a positive effect.
Moving to quit smoking
There are many ways to shift your attention. For example, you can play games, watch movies, watch TV, or listen to music. These can all help you take your attention away from smoking and naturally make you stop wanting to smoke.
Snack-based smoking cessation method
Prepare some snacks that you can chew on, such as sunflower seeds, walnuts, and peanuts. These snacks require peeling, which will take up a lot of your time and thus counteract the urge to smoke.
The Water-Based Smoking Cessation Method
If you feel like smoking, I suggest you drink lots of water until you're full. You'll feel less inclined to smoke. With something in your stomach, you'll naturally think less about smoking.
Quitting smoking while sleeping
If you don't want to smoke anymore, then go to sleep. Once you're asleep, you won't want to think about anything. When you go to sleep, you can place a wrapped orange peel next to your pillow; it has a calming effect.
Meditation for Quitting Smoking
When you feel the urge to smoke, start meditating. Close your eyes, relax your body, and then imagine beautiful things and scenery in your mind. This will help you let go of the desire to smoke.
Imitating smoking cessation methods
Of course, quitting smoking is a painful process, so it's better to find a way to mimic smoking, such as putting a pen in your mouth as if you were smoking. This way, although it seems silly, at least you won't be smoking anymore.
Exercise-based smoking cessation
Of course, exercise can also help you quit smoking. We know this very well. Choosing to go for a run or hike in good weather will cleanse your lungs and naturally reduce your desire to smoke.
Willpower to Quit Smoking
That depends on your own willpower. If you can persevere, you will naturally be able to quit smoking. We all know this, especially those who have successfully quit smoking.
Yoga for Quitting Smoking
Nowadays, yoga is a way to not only purify the mind but also improve your physical health. Learning yoga with a yoga teacher can also help you quit smoking.
The most effective way to quit smoking is through the real experiences shared by netizens. Quitting smoking is like losing weight for women; to successfully quit, you need determination, the ability to resist temptation, and long-term persistence.
