8 Tips to Help You Quit Smoking

There are many overall health benefits to quitting smoking - improving your circulation, decreasing your risk of disease, and lengthening your life expectancy, to name a few. It’s never too late to quit and the sooner you do, the more you can reduce your risk of getting cancer and other diseases.

If you are ready to quit smoking for good, here are some tips to help:

1. Stay clear of triggers: your urge for a smoke may be most intense when you are in a place where you often smoke. Avoid relapse by being aware of triggers and having a plan in place to replace the habit, such as holding a pen or popping a mint.

2. Procrastinate: when you have a craving, train yourself to wait at least 10 minutes and distract yourself by playing with a rubber band or stress ball.

3. Confront yourself: in the moments of a strong urge to smoke, you may tell yourself that one cigarette won't hurt. Stand strong and firm. Look at yourself in the mirror and encourage healthy habits.

4. Chew on something healthy: smoking is an oral fixation. Shift the urge to smoke by chewing on something healthy: raw carrots or celery, sunflower seeds, granola, or gum.

5. Exercise the craving away: walking, jogging, biking, or cleaning can help you beat your tobacco craving. Physical activity is a good distraction while also burning calories.

6. Remind yourself of the benefits: never forget why you are working hard to quit: better health, better psychological state, saving money, and sparing your loved ones from second-hand smoke.

7. Remind yourself of who you are quitting for: face the mirror and say it aloud: "I'm quitting for my..." (family, children, parents, loved ones...).

8. Don't go it alone: Find a partner who also needs to quit and support each other. You may also find an understanding friend or relative who you can contact when your temptation is high. You can also call 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669), a free support line offering one-on-one support.

Remember that every day you resist your tobacco cravings is a step closer to completely quitting and improving your health.