Top ten tips for quitting smoking

I quit smoking six months ago after 23 years.
On the lead up to it I was convinced it would be the most difficult thing I had ever attempted. I had always made myself hollow promises to quit, we have all been there, like when I turn 30 or when I have children. I had heard stories from people who had done exactly this and I reassured myself as I smoked a roll up that I too would have a great epiphany at some milestone in life. This never was the case. So for me I think it was a mixture of a lot of things. I think every smoker wishes they had never started and I have never met anyone who would want their children to start smoking.

I wanted to quit but every morning I had my first smoke. On top of this I was really good at smoking I could almost chain smoke better than anyone I knew ( it sounds so ridiculous but whenever I abstained from smoking, a period of panic smoking loads would occur).

So without further a due...... Drum roll please.

Here are my personal top tips to quit smoking forever.

1. Mentally prepare.
   If you want to quit, but you just cant take the first step , begin by visualising your future self who has quit.
   The great thing about this is you can still smoke as much as you want. Just spend the time of at least one cigarette a day picturing in your minds eye your future self not smoking and put yourself in there shoes feeling proud that you have no desire to smoke.

2. I listened to an audio book called Easy way by Allen Carr. I found it very helpful even though I had to listen to it three times over the course of a year for it to sink in enough( like I said I was really good at smoking). The book has a great perspective on how to change your view on smoking. I highly recommend this as a tool to use in preparation to quit.

3. There is never a good time to quit but be kind to yourself and choose a week when there is nothing big or stressful on the cards.

4. Have a distraction lined up. I downloaded a lot of films to preoccupy me and nice but healthy food and drink .

5 . A new hobby or change of scene is a great way to break the reminders of cigarettes. Do you remember the times when you were doing something fun and new , then you realised you hadn't smoked for a few hours. That's the idea.

1. Use a vaporiser , but this is a big point , I had ZERO nicotine in mine. It was hard for a couple of days but trust me it is totally worth it. I have friends who quit five years ago and are totally addicted to vaporisers, gum ,or patches.
   That's the whole trick cigarettes play on you in the first place its the nicotine and nothing else trust me.

2. Decide whether or not to tell people that you are never going to smoke again. Social pressure can be used to your advantage here if it helps you.

3. Make a solemn oath to yourself, family , loved ones or a belief. I looked at a photo of my sons every morning for that first week and I got down on my knees and swore I would not smoke that day. It worked for me and you can tailor it to yourself.

4. Use the saved money for something noble. Forget that new pair of shoes or a games console, use it for something that inspires you. Maybe a charity or a project to improve yourself, just make it aspirational.

5. It will be tough for a couple of days but when the nicotine has left the building you will only have to deal with yourself and you have done that forever so its easy.

So here's the kicker. As a bonus for quitting you begin to feel a lot healthier. You will wake up in the morning wondering why you are not coughing! Plus you have the added boost to you mental fortitude knowing you have conquered.

It is a great feeling believe me. Use every positive you discover as inspiration.

I know it is easy to say these things but they worked for me.

Many thanks for reading.