Quitting Smoking

Poll

	|   |

Author:
Rob Mellor

So you've finally made the decision to quit smoking and this time you mean business. Well if so let me tell you what you need to do to prepare and to keep on the track.
Whether you're going to stop naturally which I recommend or using medication of some sort. It's important that you stay focused and plan before you quit smoking.
Why? I hear you ask.
Let me tell you why...
I tried to stop smoking once a few years ago. It was the first time I had tried. I didn't plan or prepare, I just decided I was going to quit. I believed the hype about patches so I just brought a couple of packs to do me the week and smoked my last cigarettes that night. In my mind it was, 'I'll quit from Monday', I'm sure you've all done that even if it wasn't with stopping smoking. Maybe it was something like 'I'll start the diet Monday' or 'I join the gym on Monday'. Why's it always Monday anyway?
Getting back to the story. Monday morning came and I was confident I would succeed. I stuck a patch on and went to work. Through out the day I felt bored and anxious. I carried on for another day but at lunch time I just cracked and had to beg for a cigarette off a work mate.
I only went for a day and a half and this wasn't down to will power but not planning and preparing myself. I could have planned for the boredom and anxiety making sure I had something to keep me busy. I could have also planned to keep away from other smokers so I couldn't get a smoke.
Here are a few things you should plan for:
Boredom Anxiety Cravings Been near other smokers Stress Drinking
Some of these can easily be overcome. Boredom can be overcome by keeping busy. Stress and Anxiety can be overcome by doing exercise (I found this to help greatly). You also aren't likely to be near other smokers when exercising. Try and keep out of the pub because when drinking your more likely to have a smoke and you'll also be around other smokers.
To calm your cravings I recommend you try hypnosis like I did when I finally quit smoking for good.
About the Author
Rob Mellor owns the www.quit-smoking-expert.com website helping normal people quit smoking in less than 40 minutes. Please visit the site for more information to stop smoking

A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Smoking... Smoking Cessation: An Opportunity For Commercial Improvement Impact Of Smoking On The Business When we consider the impact of smoking on a business we need to consider three key areas of profitability, health of all employees and other people who visit our premises and company image. Profitability is a major concern for all organisations that employ smokers: 34 million working days are lost to British industry each year due to smoking related sick leave. After all, there are over 50 diseases associated with smoking, so the habit provides a lot of opportunities for sick leave. The cost to the employer is not just on sick pay but also lost productivity and output. Professor Konrad Jamrozik of Imperial College London has estimated that exposure to second hand smoke in the workplace causes around 617 premature deaths in the UK each year. A Canadian study (Health Canada, Smoking and the bottom line, Canada, 1997) showed that the average annual reduction in productivity per employee who smokes is £1,085, increased absenteeism costs £115, additional insurance £37, and smoking areas cost £42 (figures that have significantly inflated over the last 10 years). The cost of supporting a smoking environment is significant and many companies fail to realise how this impacts the bottom line: Smoking breaks cause interruptions to work flow and can account for one lost day per week. Smokers introduce additional costs for cleaning and redecorating. Cost of space for smoking rooms if used. Special ventilation is required if smoking rooms are used. Increased premiums for health and fire insurance with up to 14% of medical costs related to smoking. Increased litigation risks. Proposals are in place to prohibit smoking in most workplaces in England during 2007. However, Scotland and...