Tips for Sticking to Your Quit Smoking Resolution

Tips-for-Sticking-to-Your-Quit-Smoking-Resolution-2

With the start of a new year, it’s a great time to take stock of your life and think about what you want to bring into the year and what you want to leave behind. If you decide to put down the cigarettes, this might be a good time to commit while you are enthusiastic and fresh from the holidays.

Keep reading for our top 5 tips to help you quit smoking in NZ this year.

1. Have a plan

According to a UK study, quitting smoking is the hardest New Year’s resolution to keep, which is why it is important to have a plan in place and be mentally prepared for the journey.
Think about specific moments when you’re most likely to reach for a cigarette, such as after a meal or on nights out, and plan an alternative activity or way to cope. If you didn’t have a plan in place by the 1st of January, it might be better to set a date in the near future, which gives you time to get in the zone mentally.

2. Tell friends and family

When making a big life change, you need support. Tell your friends and family that you are planning to quit and ask them to help keep you on track. Even better, if someone else in your life also wants to quit, you can do it together! Being accountable to another person on your quitting journey can be a big motivation, as you won’t want to let them (or yourself!) down by picking up a cigarette.

3. Use the tools available

There is growing evidence that vaping is one of the most effective tools people can use to quit smoking for good. Vapes still give you a nicotine hit without any of the nasty chemicals in cigarettes, and they give you something to do in social situations when you may be most likely to smoke.

Another option is Nicotine Replacement Therapy, including nicotine patches and gums. Since nicotine is the addictive part of smoking, it makes sense to wean off using a vape or nicotine replacement product rather than going cold turkey.

4. Take care of yourself

While your body is recovering from the effects of cigarettes, it is important to take care of your body. Getting enough sleep and eating well will ensure you have the energy needed to deal with everyday stressors that may make you feel like having a cigarette. Eat healthy veggies, proteins, and whole grains rather than sugary foods that will make you feel flat.

Another great tool to use is exercise! Taking a brisk walk or jog when you have a cigarette craving will release endorphins and decrease its intensity. Exercising will also help reduce your overall stress levels, which may lessen your desire for a smoke.

5. Remind yourself of the benefits

It’s important to keep reminding yourself of why you want to quit. Write a list that you can look at each morning to help sharpen your resolve for the day ahead. You might have personal reasons for quitting, but there are some great general reasons to jot down. These include improved taste and smell after only a few days, improved breathing and ability to exercise, and reducing the risk of a heart attack and lung cancer.

Some people also like to keep track of the money they are saving and use this as motivation! Think of a present to buy yourself once you save a certain amount and reward yourself for your hard work.

Any attempt to quit is a good attempt

At the end of the day, it is important to be patient and kind to yourself. If you have one cigarette, it’s better to accept it and keep trying to quit than to give up and wait for next year. Any attempt is better than none and will move you closer to being smoke-free in the future.

If you decide that vaping is going to be the best method to help reach your goal, then get in touch with us at NZVAPOR! We can set you up with an e-cigarette starter kit and provide advice on how to get the most out of your new vape.

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