More than half of all adult smokers will attempt to quit each year, according to 2018 CDC statistics. Perhaps you’re one of the many people who are quitting nicotine and, unsurprisingly, you’re finding it tough.
Coping with nicotine withdrawal is notoriously difficult — less than 1 in 10 will succeed in their attempt to quit. But you have a better chance to quit using nicotine with these tips, which will make the process easier on you.
1. Break a Sweat
You might find that a lack of nicotine affects your mood. Spoiler alert: you may feel cranky or anxious without cigarettes for a while.
To help yourself feel better, though, you can break a sweat. Exercising daily will boost your endorphins, fighting back against the crankiness you feel.
Getting up and moving will help with anxiety, too. Those same endorphins help with anxiety. But getting up and moving will take your mind off anxiety — and distract you from your nicotine cravings, too.
2. Keep Your Mouth Busy
You’re not just quitting nicotine — you’re quitting a habit of smoking, too. As such, you may find that you’re a bit restless without the smoke breaks and physical act of smoking in your life.
So, find something to do to keep your mouth busy. Some people chew gum, while others smoke nicotine-free pods, which you can find here. You might also try sucking on pieces of hard candy or noshing on crunchy, healthy snacks throughout the day.
3. Avoid Your Triggers
You may not smoke all the time. Perhaps you only smoke when you drink, or maybe you have a big group of friends who still smoke.
If that’s the case, then skip the activities that trigger your desire for nicotine. That may mean avoiding drinking for a while or saying no to hangouts with your friends who smoke. When you break the addiction, you can return to those activities, but avoid them while you’re still vulnerable to major nicotine cravings.
4. Make a New Routine
You probably have your daily smoke breaks as part of your daily routine. Perhaps you wake up in the morning, brew a cup of coffee, and have a cigarette while you’re waiting for it to filter through. If that’s the case, you will need to rewrite your routine to avoid smoking.
Start planning new, fun (and distracting) activities to fill in for when you smoke. For example, you might listen to a podcast while your coffee brews instead. At work when you’d normally go smoke, you could take a walk around the office or go chat with a colleague.
No matter what you choose, make a point to stick to your new routine. The more you actively avoid lulls in your schedule, the easier it will be to cut your nicotine cravings.
Quitting Nicotine Starts Now
It’s no secret that quitting nicotine is tough, but you can do it. These tips will make the transition easier, and they’re worth trying. We know you’ll feel proud of yourself — and better all around — once smoking is out of your life.
Need more lifestyle advice? Be sure to check back in with us for more.
