Quitting smoking is a popular New Year’s resolution year in and year out. Research shows that upwards of 70% of smokers say they want to quit, but not everyone is successful. Part of that is not doing the right preparation to quit. Whether you want to know how to quit smoking cold turkey or how to stop smoking with a more gradual method, we’re here to help. With these practical tips, you can start 2023 on the right foot with your goal of quitting cigarettes.
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How to make a plan to stop smoking that works for you
Setting up a plan is a great way to start the process of giving up nicotine. That plan begins with examining your habits and considering what will work best for you.
Examine your current smoking habits
Once you’ve decided you want to quit smoking, it’s a good practice to come up with a plan you will follow through with. That starts with looking at your smoking habits and figuring out how to change it.
- Become aware of how much you smoke: Before you cut back, it’s important to understand how much you’re smoking to begin with. It might be more than you think. Count how many cigarettes you’re smoking each day and write it down so you can look at that number.
- Identify the reasons you smoke: There are certainly reasons that you smoke or use tobacco and the next step in your journey is understanding them. There’s a good possibility that it’s a years-old habit that doesn’t feel like it has its reasons anymore — but think about why you started in the first place and why you turn to it throughout the day now. Every time you want to smoke, write down why you’re doing it.
- Think about why you want to quit smoking: Having a reason in place will help you stick to your guns when it comes to giving up tobacco. Whether it’s for your health, the sake of your children or another reason, figure out why you really want to quit smoking — beyond just quitting for the sake of quitting. While quitting for the sake of quitting is a great way to start, having something you can visualize in the tougher moments of this journey can definitely help you push through when you feel like giving up.
Learn how smoking affects your body
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