Smokers are more aware of the dangers of smoking thanks to better information nowadays. You are hard pressed to find a person in today’s society that doesn’t believe the link between cigarettes and lung cancer. It is for this reason that more and more of you are deciding to quit. Honestly, it is the best decision you will ever make if you can stick to the script. It might not seem like it at first, but you will welcome the decision in years to come.

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The only problem is getting the ball rolling. Taking that first step is often the hardest, especially when it comes to smoking. There are plenty of stronger drugs on the market, yet none of them are as addictive as nicotine. To achieve your goal, you have to have the willpower and the desire to quit. You also need the methods that are the most effective. Below, you will find a list of the ten best and most effective quitting methods. Good luck!

#1: COLD TURKEY

In the interest of being honest, there are studies that suggest going cold turkey isn’t good for your body. If you are a heavy smoker, for example, your body is so hooked on the nicotine that it would be unhealthy to take it away all of a sudden. Still, there are also studies that suggest going cold turkey is one of the best ways to quit as it acts as a detox. As the research is varied, it is up to you which train of thought you decide is right or wrong. The worst thing you can do, though, is to omit a method that could be useful. Some people like to start fresh as it makes them feel like they are contributing. If you are one of these people, quitting at a moment’s notice might be a good option.

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#2: GRADUALLY LOWER YOUR INTAKE

One thing that is irrefutable is that going cold turkey is hard. In fact, it is one of the hardest methods at your disposal. For that reason, you will want to consider your options, options that are a lot friendlier. One such option is gradually quitting smoking by lowering your nicotine intake. There is nothing fancy about this – all you do is reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke daily. The best way to go about it is to start off small and work your way up to a bigger decrease. For instance, if you smoke ten a day, knock it down to nine and then eight and so on. By the time you get down to one or zero cigarettes a day, your body will be used to the change. Hopefully, that will make it easier to give up the habit for good.

#3: VAPING

Vaping is another way to kick the habit gradually. Well, it is if you do it properly. There are lots of ‘vapers’ that have swapped cigarettes for electronic cigarettes. Although it is a little healthier, it isn’t completely good for your body. The key is to swap cigarettes for a vape mod and then lower the strength over time. The lower you go, the more chance you have of quitting nicotine altogether. Tackle it in the same way as above. Start with a powerful strength and work your way down until you are nicotine free. It sounds easy, but it takes a lot of hard work and effort. However, vaping is a great way to stop smoking cigarettes if you take it seriously.

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#4: SWAP YOUR ADDICTION

The thing about addiction is that it is always there no matter how long you have resisted temptation. Alcoholics, for instance, admit that they are still alcoholics even if they have been sober for twenty years. Unfortunately, your addiction is never far away trying to tempt you into a relapse. That is why it is a good idea to swap smoking with another addiction. Obviously, the next addiction must be a healthy one that you can overindulge. Then, you will start to forget about smoking and concentrate on your new habit. Work is a common alternative, but work isn’t always healthy as it causes stress. And, stress will make you more likely to smoke. Exercise is probably the best alternative. No matter how much you exercise, you won’t affect your health. Plus, going to the gym can become an addiction. When the body exercises, it releases adrenaline. That shot of adrenaline is one of the best feelings in the world, and it will keep you coming back for more. You don’t have to become a gym junkie as there are plenty of other sports to try. The key is to find one that you like and make it your new compulsion.

#5: STOP DRINKING

Smokers tend to find that they are social smokers. That is to say, they rarely smoke during the week, yet they smoke a lot at the weekends. Are you one of these smokers? If you are, you should consider cutting down on your alcohol intake. For starters, the atmosphere of being in a bar and having a drink makes you want to smoke. The body recognizes the atmosphere as one that is conducive to having a smoke. Then, the cravings get more intense. Also, the body links alcohol and cigarettes together. As a result, you want a fag more when you are drunk than any other time. It is amazing how much better you perform when you don’t have a drink in your hand. That is the reason that you want to lower your alcohol intake as well as your nicotine intake.

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#6: QUIT WITH FRIENDS

Quitting alone is never easy because you need someone by your side. When you quit with other people, you have a support group that can help. Although it sounds corny, it is always nice to have someone to talk to that understands your situation. You don’t have that when you make the decision to quit by yourself. If you do have the urge to talk about your feelings, who can you phone? It is different when you have a friend or a partner in crime. Also, you have to contend with the feeling of guilt. Because you make a pact, you can’t just relapse at the first chance. You have more people to think about than number one, which means you have to consider the impact. One cigarette could be enough to bring down the entire group. Do you want that on your hands? No, because no one wants to have to bear that responsibility. Never underestimate the power of working as a team.

#7: KEEP YOUR HANDS BUSY

Your hands are the one part of your body that don’t get used to the nicotine withdrawal. Even when you are a fully-fledged quitter, you will still fiddle with your hands. And, you will also put things in your mouth as if you were having a cigarette. For obvious reasons, this makes quitting harder. After all, it is a constant reminder of your addiction. That is why it is a good idea to keep your hands busy if possible. Instead of fiddling and chewing a pen, swap it for a stress ball. Whenever you get the urge to mess around with your hands, squeeze it until the urge goes away. A stress ball is just one example, but there are plenty of others you can try.

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#8: GET OVER IT MENTALLY

Smoking is as much a mental addiction as it is a physical one. The previous tips have shown how fiddling with your hands or being in the wrong environment can induce cravings. Thankfully, there are ways to help you cope mentally. Quitters hate this method because they either don’t trust it or don’t like to be at the mercy of a shrink. Well, it is time to forget about your petty dislikes and embrace the mental side of addiction. When you do, you can overcome a lot more than just smoking. Some people use self-help books and audiobooks, which are effective. The most effective option, though, is a psychiatrist. Talking to a person face to face is always a good way to get over your insecurities. Plus, it is a good way for them to get a grip on your addiction. Therapists also have a range of methods that they can use in-house, such as hypnotism. They can’t do that as well through a book.

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#9: REMIND YOURSELF WHY

Regardless of what you choose, you always have to remind yourself why you want to quit. It is that reminder that will drive you on and prevent a relapse. Human emotion is one of the strongest tools in your armory, and you should exploit it to good effect. If you have kids, say, you will want to see them grow up and turn into adults. Understanding that is less likely as a smoker is one way to harness human emotion. Alternatively, you can just tell yourself that you want to become a better and healthier person.

Kicking smoking into touch is never going to be easy. The first step is to understand that you need to take action. Now, it is time to put your money where your mouth is and quit for good.