Smoking has a lot of health hazards associated with it. Although a lot of people find it very difficult to quit smoking because of the addiction to the substance nicotine. It may be difficult, yes, but not impossible. Believe me, it is worth the try.
When seeking natural remedies to help you quit smoking, there are a few that you might try. Below are some gradual steps that can help you stop smoking naturally. No matter how hard it seems, stick to it and I bet you, it will turn out successful. Take the stand and say “NO” to shorten your life span. Quit smoking.
How to Quit Smoking Naturally
Read: How To Quit Alcohol Addiction – Kill The Craving
- Set a date: Decide on the date you want to quit smoking and begin working to achieve your goal. Setting a firm quit date is a great way to make things easier. It’ll give you more time to emotionally prepare, clean your home, and stock your fridge with plenty of healthy snacks. Let your friends, family, and coworkers know that you’re going to quit. Their love and support will help you actualize it.
- Avoid items linked with smoking: You may want to stay away from things that remind you of smoking. Go through your home, car, and evacuate all of your ashtrays, lighters, and cigarette packs. Clean your home and wash your clothes thoroughly to remove the scent and secondhand smoke. Break out the cleaning supplies and set 12 hours aside to really give your home a thorough cleaning. Vacuum the carpets, mop the floors, do your laundry, and change the sheets. Getting rid of the smell will really cut back on the urge to smoke.
- Control your urge: In many cases, your urge to smoke will go away after 5-10 minutes as your brain shifts from the fixation to whatever you’re doing at the time. Though the urge will be intense at first, your refusal to give in will make it go away after a while. You may want to chew on straw, gum, or toothpick to fend off the oral fixation. Doing something repetitious with your mouth can trick your brain into relaxing when you get an urge. You can chew on something, like sugarless gum, or just toy with a straw or toothpick to give your mouth something to do.
- Get busy: Do something you enjoy to distract yourself. Avoid sitting around bored, you’re more likely to end up fixating on the urges to smoke. Find something immersive to do that you enjoy to keep your brain occupied. Puzzles, video games, books, movies, sports, and yoga can be a getaway depending on your hobbies
- Control your emotions: You will notice increased irritability once you begin your journey to quit smoking. Since frustration leads to smoking, finding a way to calm yourself down will help cut the urge to smoke. When you’re getting aggravated, inhale for 2-3 seconds, hold it for 2-3 seconds, and exhale slowly from your mouth. Continue doing this until you calm down to avoid losing your cool and limit the urge to smoke.
- Avoid alcohol: Usually, alcohol and smoking go together. Avoid alcohol entirely and limit long trips in the vehicle. Do your best to avoid driving unless it’s absolutely necessary. If you’re a non-driver or abstain from alcohol, this isn’t a big issue for you.
- Avoid Stressful Situation: Avoid people or things that get you worked up. Things that stress you out are going to trigger the urge to smoke since most smokers light up after stressful situations and events. Figure out what stresses you out and avoid these triggers as best as you can to prevent tougher urges.
- Join an Online Support Group: There are tons of online support groups for quitting smoking. The problem with cutting the nicotine is that the urge can strike at any time, which makes scheduled support groups kind of ineffective. However, if you’re a part of an online community, you can log on any time to talk to other ex-smokers who will support you, chat with you, and offer guidance on how to avoid the urge.
- Natural Herbs and acupuncture: Some researches have shown that natural herbs like ginseng can help reduce the urge to smoke. Also, acupuncture inserted into various points in the ear can help cripple the desire to smoke.
- Exercise: Exercise can reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings. It will also help prevent weight gain that some experience when quitting. Exercise at least 30 minutes a day to help with withdrawal. Basically, any form of exercise will help you quit, so pick an activity that you’ll enjoy.
- Eat fruits, vegetables, grains, and dairy products: These foods clash with the taste of cigarettes and can make lighting up seem less appealing. Choose leafy greens, brown rice, quinoa, and drink milk to keep cravings to a minimum. Avoid red meat, coffee, and alcohol, as these can complement the taste of cigarettes and increase your cravings.
- Water: Sip on water throughout the day to stay hydrated and keep the gut happy. Water is key when it comes to quitting smoking for a few reasons. For one, nicotine often triggers the need to use the bathroom. Drinking tons of water will help you digest food more easily and help with the constipation many smokers experience when they quit. Water will also keep your mouth from drying out when you get the urge to smoke and keep your body healthy and hydrated throughout the day.
- Reminder: Continuous reminder of the risks associated with continued smoking can make your urge to quit even stronger. List the health risks out loud, think about how much money you’re saving, and picture yourself happy, healthy, and breathing in clean air. Keeping the health risks in mind is a great way to make quitting stick.
Although these steps are not a guarantee that you will quit smoking but a dedication to it may help you achieve your freedom from the addiction.
