4 Ways To Resist The Urge And Quit Tobacco

Here are four tips to get you started on your journey to resist the urge and quit smoking.

We are all familiar with the 'smoking is injurious to health' warning that flashes across our screens as we sit down to watch a movie, almost forming an opening ritual to our cinematic experience. This message is part of a larger conversation to discourage tobacco use, highlight its dangers, and support public health, given that over 38% of men and 9% of women in India consume tobacco in some form.

Here are four tips to get you started on your journey to resist the urge and quit smoking:

1. Find new hobbies and ways to de-stress: Anxiety and stress are common causes of a relapse. Find other activities that help you unload, unwind, and cope with stress. It could be a round of cooking, taking up a sport, reading a book, or indulging in a movie you'd meant to watch. Deep breathing exercises help, too. Disrupt the cycle by building other habits in its place for instance, if you reach for a cigarette in the morning, use that time for a healthier alternative, like going for a jog or walking your dog. Also, avoid excessive drinking consuming alcohol can make quitting smoking more difficult.
2. Find your anchor: Before starting, it's essential to understand what truly motivated this change in your lifestyle. Whether it's to improve your health, save the money you would frequently spend on a pack of cigarettes, or protect those around you from secondhand smoke - you need something substantial to hold on to, particularly during moments of weakness. Pen down your reasons and let this constantly remind you why and how you made this decision.
3. Prep your environment: Get rid of everything that makes the smoker in you tick. Clear out the spots and drawers that hold your lighters and ashtrays. Let your friends and close coworkers know so that they don't extend a cigarette or an offer to smoke. Prepare a 'cravings kit' with chewing gum and hard candy or even keep snacks like dry fruits handy to keep your mouth busy and cravings at bay.
4. Do not quit cold turkey: Do not set unrealistic goals, such as giving it all up in one go. No one is expecting you to wake up one day and declare that you've successfully turned into a non-smoker. Set small goals and celebrate every little indicator of progress. Also, quitting is a process. Slip-ups are a normal part of the journey this doesn't mean you've failed.