Top Tips to Stop Smoking For The New Year

Starting the year off by getting rid of old bad habits crosses everyone's minds, and sometimes the idea is where it ends. You might have trailed and failed at ways to quit your smoking but never had the right tools to actually follow through. If you're getting married next year and want to kick the habit before your big day, now is the time to start and replace with healthier or happier habits instead.

This article will give you some ways to say goodbye to that habit for good: 

Nicotine Replacement

When you stop smoking, not everyone can go ‘cold turkey’ and that might be where they go wrong; they try to stop a habit in its tracks instead of slowly weaning it out. If you’ve never tried or don’t know all the options available, then you could try one of these things. 

Going cold turkey can also come with withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, mood swings and sapping energy. During those times when life is stressful or you’re socially drinking, having just one drag won't do any harm, but it does. 

Try these things instead:

• Nicotine gum 
• Nicotine or Velo pouches
• Nasal sprays
• Prescription tablets or oral inhalers

Pick a Date

Choose a day and then stick to it. It is one thing to say you will do it over and over again and then it's another thing to actually do it. 

If it does pop into your head, then just do it from that moment on and take control of your life. Who knows? You might reach into your pocket and find the packet empty. What better way to just stop and go cold turkey?

Make a List

Sometimes It might be easier to make the decision if you’ve seen it written on paper. Try a pros and cons list and write down all the reasons you want to quit. Keep it close to you or on your phone and you can refer back to it every time the cravings start.

Remove any Triggers

What I find useful is to remove things that make you want to do negative things. For example, usually, when people drink, a quick social smoke comes with it. This isn’t to say you can’t enjoy a drink with friends or a glass of wine with a meal; it's more a sense that if you're having a night out with friends, maybe bring a substance like Velo pouches or only go out with non-smoking friends.

Practising saying “No”

Don’t be tempted by peer pressure or the little voice in your head to have “just one” cigarette and be firm with your choices. It will be incredibly rewarding, not only for your health but also for your dignity and self-control.

Move More

Research has shown that even a five-minute walk or stretch helps reduce the desire to smoke and may even stimulate the production of chemicals in the brain that prevent cravings.

• Get inspiration for getting active through videos online or other people with whom you can relate.

Support System

Inform your loved ones, close friends, and family that you're attempting to stop. They can motivate you to press on, particularly in moments when you feel like giving up. They can be there to turn to and also keep you motivated. If you're close to your family, you wouldn’t want to disappoint them, and this could be enough to deter you from doing it.

 Additionally, you can speak with a counsellor or join a support group. One kind of counselling that can assist you in identifying and adhering to cessation techniques is behavioural therapy. A few sessions might be helpful.