Kiss Your Own Cigarette Butt: Goodbye

If you have the courage to try to quit smoking, then you have the courage to quit smoking.  First get rid of the word “TRY” because it is a set up for failure.  If you really want to quit smoking the first thing you need to do is make up your mind that you ARE GOING TO DO IT!  I have said this in another article, but you have to decide for yourself that you are going to do it, decide that you are stronger than the habit.  You need to treat yourself while you are quitting. Some great ways to make it a little easier are:

• Eat lots of veggies that are stick shaped, like carrots are celery. It will keep your hands busy.
• You can also try suckers, but try the sugar free ones because you don’t want to OD on sugar.
• Sleep a lot.  It will make the time go by and you don’t want a cigarette while you are sleeping. Also a rested body is a healthy body!
• Read a lot about how others quit and how they felt while quitting.  It does help to know you are not alone. Find a friend that quit ( not one of those guys who say how easy it was for them they just forgot how are it was or they are simply lying!)
• Spend time at places that don’t allow smoking indoors (which is most places now a days.)
• Whiten your teeth, now it is worth it to do because you are not going to stain them anymore.
• Keep a diary brag about what you are doing and let out your feelings on paper, it will keep your hands busy too. 
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help, talk to your doctor and tell them how you are feeling! There are a lot of hot lines that you can call, just search “quit smoking hot line” and a bunch will pop up for you.
• Pick a close friend who can relate and talk to them often.
• Put the money away that you would have spent on cigarettes (really save it) buy yourself something that you have always wanted but felt would be a selfish indulgence.  YOU DESERVE IT NOW!!
• Find a release, when you crave a cigarette, the craving only lasts a few minutes and it will go away! Find something else that you love to do while that craving is there. Jump on a trampoline or paint your fingernails are a couple of ideas.  Also, if you brush your teeth it keeps your hands and mouth busy and if you think about it a cigarette tastes really bad after a cigarette, so you won’t want you as badly. Plus brushing your teeth makes them cleaner and whiter.
• I kinda pretended to smoke, because I felt it was the act of smoking not the smoke in my lungs that I liked.  I would breath in very deeply, hold it and release.  I don’t know??? It made me feel better.
• Remember that even the President of the United States has to or had to face this challenge, you can do it too.
• Remember that cravings are to be expected, it is OK to want to smoke… just don’t let yourself do it. 
• Most of all remember that a day will come soon that you will not think about smoking.  It will be a good day and you will be proud of yourself, deservingly. 

You are worth living longer.  I know how wonderful that cigarette feels, the comfort that you get from it CAN be replaced by other healthier things.  Remember you will smell better, look better and feel better.  It is worth the sacrifice.  Good luck to all who is up to the challenge.