12 Tips That Will Help You Quit Smoking for New Years

12 Tips That Will Help You Quit Smoking for New Year's More in Addiction Nicotine Use How to Quit Smoking After You Quit Nicotine Withdrawal Smoking-Related Diseases The Inside of Cigarettes Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Drug Use Coping and Recovery Something about leaving an old year behind and looking ahead at the clean slate of a new one inspires most of us to try. We think about making lasting positive changes in our lives, and we do it with hope and enthusiasm. If youre planning to start the new year without a cigarette in your hand, set yourself up for success by learning what it takes to quit and what to expect from the process. Take advantage of the resources and support available online and in your local area as well. 1) Dont Let Fear Paralyze You Every smoker is well acquainted with the gut-wrenching fear that comes when the day theyve planned to quit smoking arrives. Youre suddenly filled with doubt about whether quitting is a good idea. Maybe you should wait until youre not so busy and stressed. Next week or month would be easier you tell yourself, as you light up and settle back into the haze of denial that comes with nicotine addiction. Dont let fear stop you before you get started. Push through and stub out that last cigarette when the time comes. You can do it and the rewards awaiting you are well worth the effort it takes to quit. 2) Use a Quit Journal Consider starting a quit journal and make the first entry the list of reasons you have for quitting. Take a look at an ex-smokers list of the  pros and cons of smoking and use it for inspiration on making a detailed list of your own. We have a way of believing what we tell ourselves over and over. Your journal will help you cement your goals and give you perspective on the progress youre making with cessation. 3) Find a Shoulder to Lean On Encouragement and comfort from others who are interested in your success are crucial. Augment support from family and friends with online support forums, which can be  a thriving, active group of people who are going through what you are, and are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Stop in as a guest to browse and read posts from other ex-smokers, or register to post messages of your own. 4) Eat Smart Smoking cessation throws your body into shock initially. As damaging as the chemicals are in cigarette smoke, youve become physically accustomed to them and will feel their absence for a time when you quit. If you take care to give your body the fuel it needs to run properly, youll minimize and cope better with the discomforts associated with smoking cessation. A few treats are fine but dont load up on empty calories that leave you feeling tired and cause weight gain. Keep the right foods within easy reach. Its especially important right now. 5) Drink Water Water will help flush residual toxins out of your system and beat back cravings to smoke. When youre well-hydrated, youll feel better in general, which is a plus when youre going through nicotine withdrawal. 6) Get Your Beauty Sleep When youre tired, cravings to smoke will seem stronger and youll have less energy to deal with them.  Fit a full 8 hours of sleep every night, and add a nap here and there if you need it. If you have trouble sleeping when you first quit smoking, try taking a long walk a couple of hours before bed. Insomnia can be a symptom of nicotine withdrawal. 7) Get Moving If you already have a daily exercise regimen, great. Keep it up. If not, start now. Choose something you enjoy doing, and youll be more likely to stick with it. Not only will it help you minimize weight gain, but exercise also creates endorphins, which will give you a feel-good boost. Aim for a half-hour of exercise every day. Walking is a low-impact activity that is suitable for most people and is a quick fix for the urge to smoke. Get out for a 15-minute walk around the block when youre feeling edgy and youll come back refreshed and relaxed. Be sure to check in with your doctor if you have any health issues that could be affected by a new exercise routine, especially if youve been inactive recently. 8) Renew Resolve Daily Your determination to quit smoking is built one simple day at a time. Every smoke-free day makes you stronger. It may not feel that way early on, but trust in the process and know that time is helping you to heal. Use the journal mentioned earlier to jot a few notes about your day before going to bed. Youll quickly see the progress youre making as the days pile up. When you consciously take time to reflect on the value of what youre doing, you fortify your will to make this the quit that lasts you a lifetime. 9) Be a Sponge We all know that smoking is bad for us, but if youre like most smokers, you avoid looking at the destruction that tobacco causes whenever possible. Take the blinders off and read everything you can get your hands on about the dangers of smoking. It will help you start to make the mental shift necessary to quit smoking successfully. 10) Accept and Let It Go Relax into your quit program and embrace cravings to smoke as they come. Dont fight them. Instead, try leaning into urges emotionally and let them run their course.  Most cravings last 3 to 5 minutes. Think of them as signs that your body is healing because that is just what they are. 11) Dont Fall for Junkie Thinking Quitting tobacco is a gift, not a sacrifice. Dont sabotage yourself by feeling sorry that you cant smoke. You are choosing not to smoke because you want to be free of this killer of an addiction. Its all in your perspective. Pay attention and keep yourself in a positive frame of mind. 12) Be Patient Just as Rome wasnt built in a day, people dont quit smoking in a day or a week either. Most of us had 20 years or more of smoking under our belts before we stopped. Think of time and patience as quit tools. Work to undo old patterns and replace them with newer, healthier choices. Each day you complete smoke-free brings you closer to the lasting freedom youre after.Make this the year you quit smoking for good. You wont regret it.