Breaking an addiction is hard work, and you're going to betempted to cheat. That's why one of the smartest things you cando when you're ready to quit is to tell everyone you know aboutyour decision.
There is one good thing about letting others know about decisionto quit. It makes you more accountable. It lessens down yourchances of taking a sneak puff. Having people who support youall around you, keeps you distracted from that great pull. Andbelieve me it is a lot easier to stick to promises made inpublic than to keep promises made in private.
Tell your friends. Tell your family. Tell your coworkers-eventell your boss! It's all right for you to be straightforwardwith them. Say that you want to quit, but that you know it'sgoing to be hard and you'll need their support.
Explain to everyone that you've decided to give up yourcigarette habit for good, and let them know that you are eagerfor them to help you. Ask them to keep you honest. That way, ifthey see you trying to sneak a puff on your lunch break they'llintervene and keep you from lighting up. If they notice a packof cigarettes lying on your dresser they'll encourage you tothrow it away.
You can even go one step further and write up a "quit smokingcontract" for yourself. Sign it and hang it in a prominentplace, such as your office cubicle or the fridge door. Letothers see it and read it so that they know how serious you are.I have a quit smoking contract available for you to print anduse if you wish. Just go to my web site at ng-guide.com and download the free guide, scroll to the lastpage of the manual and print out the contract. Hey, it helps, Iused it and I know many others who have as well.
Why is telling others such a great strategy? Well, no one likesto let others down. No one likes to be seen as failing to dowhat you've promised to do. In this case, being judged by othersis actually a good thing: the more pressure you feel to live upto your decision, the likelier that you are actually going toquit successfully.
Suggestion: It is a good idea if you can get one or two othersto quit smoking with you. Quitting smoking is a lot like loosingweight, so it is best if it can be done in small groups. If yourpartner also smokes then it's a wonderful thing for both of youto take the decision to together so that you can go on backingand encouraging each other.
Help To Quit Smoking
You can find help from family, friends or doctors, or even from the pharmacist at your local drug store. Doctors will be able to talk to you and may even want to refer you to a quit smoking help group.
Some groups will be able to offer the support that you need to stay away from those nasty cigarettes and they will also offer you a smoke free environment. You are going to find out that some of the things you do, places you used to go or even people you used to associate with who are smokers are going to have to change until you are completely free of smoking and the cravings for cigarettes no longer exist.
Change Your Environment
If you have made the decision to stop smoking, then the people in your family who smoke or your roommates will have to find another place to smoke. You will not be able to sit in a room or a home with someone smoking around you. You will just be tempted to go back to your old ways.
If people want to help you quit smoking, it is going to require that everyone will avoid smoking around you. If you let yourself be subject to cigarette smoke, then you will surely be overcome with the need to start smoking again. This will totally defeat the purpose of your wanting to stop smoking.
Quit smoking help is not for everyone to give. Some friends and family may feel that this is your own challenge and they are not going to stop smoking around you. In this situation, you may feel the need to seek outside help to figure out a solution to this problem.
The environment you live in is a big factor that will tell you whether you will be able to stop smoking or not. If you happen to frequent bars where smoking is allowed, this may make things harder for you. Also, being around co-workers who smoke is a hard thing.
Having house parties, going on outings or camping trips is going to be that much harder if you are trying to kick the habit and others are lighting up all around you. If you are not insistent about changing your environment, you are going to be fighting going back to smoking with every step you take.
Change Your Lifestyle
If you happen to work in an area where smoking is common, you are going to have some problems with trying to stop smoking. You lifestyle plays a big part with your ability to stop smoking. You need to try to find a comfortable lifestyle that will benefit your goal to quit smoking.
After you have succeeded in conquering this habit, you can gradually ease back into your old lifestyle without picking up the smoking habit again. One thing that will play a big part in your desire to quit smoking is the amount of willpower you have. Remember, you have the ability to say "NO!" if someone asks you if you want to light up.
Both Roger Chaumont & Carol Stack are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Roger Chaumont has sinced written about articles on various topics from Cure Anxiety, Quitting Alcohol. For additional information as well as other articles to help youquit smoking please visit the web site below. Copyright 2005
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