Everyone knows the ill effects of smoking. From kids to adults, everyone is aware of the health hazards that smoking causes. Yet smokers find it hard to give up this habit. This is probably because of nicotine, the addictive substance found in cigarettes. The ill effects of smoking are numerous; thus, one must adopt a planned method to quit smoking. Here are some tips that can help you to quit:
1. First, make up your mind. Honor your commitment and get yourself registered in a smoke-quitting program or visit a counselor or hypnotherapist;
2. Make a list of the reasons why you want to quit smoking and go through it every time you crave a cigarette;
3. Write 10 good things about smoking and 10 bad things about smoking. You'll notice the difference in the good and the bad. This helps a lot;
4. Buy yourself a nicotine inhaler or Zyban. This will make it a bit easier to give up smoking;
5. Get audiotapes and books related to quitting smoking. Read them and enlighten yourself about all the ill effects of smoking;
6. Consult your doctor if you face seizures or any other complications;
7. Get your friends and family to support you and help you give up smoking;
8. Try to eat fruits, chewing gum, lollipops, hard candy or cinnamon sticks if the urge to smoke arises. Try replacing nicotine with other non-addictive stuff like beer nuts or corn muffins;
9. Keep your mind occupied with creative activities such as knitting, embroidery or carpentry. Take a brisk walk, go for a swim or some other physical activity. This will help to keep your mind off smoking;
10. You may gain some weight while trying to quit smoking. This is because people tend to feel hungry initially when trying to give up smoking. However, this minor problem can be easily handled through regular exercise;
11. In the first few days after quitting, drink plenty of water. This washes away the nicotine and other harmful toxins from your body;
12. Give up coffee and other carbonated drinks when you quit smoking;
13. Ask people around you to stop inviting you to go out for a smoke. This will not only help you to deal with the craving for a cigarette, but give you somebody to talk to about how hard quitting is;
14. Take long deep breaths every time you feel like smoking. When you slowly inhale, feel the fresh air reach deep inside you. While exhaling, feel all the stress and tensions leave your body. Let your chin rest on your chest and relax;
15. Remember, all cravings last only five minutes. If you succeed in diverting your mind for five minutes, you can give up smoking.
You won't die if you don't smoke. So never give up when you badly feel like smoking. Make it happen, give up cigarettes and live a long and healthy life.
Summer is now drawing to an end, but this does not mean that we as thoughtful dog owners should relax on our obligation of insuring that our beloved dogs are kept cool during the remaining hot days that are surely to come. As air conditioners are turned down a notch, and the leaves on our garden trees begin to hint of a change in colour, it is to often the case that pet owners let their guard down when it comes to keeping their pets cool and it is at this time of year when veterinarians see a lot of heat stroke cases that could easily be prevented.
The heat of summer has taken its toll on just about everybody, pets included. To often, I've come across an article in the news paper, or opened my internet browser to the MSN home page, only to read about the latest fore-legged victim to succumb to heat stroke.
The fact of the matter is that not enough dog owners take the time to familiarize themselves with common dog ailments. By not familiarizing themselves with things to potentially watch out for, then one can not be expected to recognize a sign or symptim exhibited by their dog even if it was glaringly obvious. To often with family bustle and hustle, the dog is left to fend for himself. Dogs will try very hard to mask any condition or any kind of sickness that they are experiencing, meaning that the chance of their owners realizing that something is wrong is very slim.
If I could make one recommendation to any soon to be dog owner, it would be to take the time to learn about the animal that you are planning on bringing into your home. Once that dog is part of your family, you and the rest of your family are 100% responsible for any, and all aspects of the life of that dog. Your dog can not tell you if it is feeling sick, or needs to go outside, or needs water etc. You as the conscientious dog owner need to familiarize yourself with every known behavior of your dog, so based on the behavior that he/she is exhibiting, you will be able to act accordingly and in the dog's best interest.
Both J.r. Ferrara & Roberto Bell 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.