Staying Smoke Free

I must congratulate those who are trying to quit or those who have quit already!

Smoking is a really bad habit to break, and every single step you take to reduce your nicotine means that you're taking a better choice for a healthier life. But how do you deal with the incessant craving of nicotine?

These are some tips to help you (after you've chucked all your cigarette supplies down the loo):

1) Exercise
Instead of reaching for a ciggie, or something sweet (it's been said that most smoke-quitter tends to opt for more snack to keep themselves occupied), how about a walk around the block? Or even a run if you insist! Do it for at least 5 minutes, and remind yourself why you want to quit in the first place, and that exercise is also a step toward a healthier life!

2) Deep breathing
Practice deep breathing to calm yourself down, use the moment to contemplate why you want to quit smoking in the first place.

3) Healthy snack
Like I mentioned earlier, once you've tried to quit, you tend to reach for something to put in your mouth (smoking is an oral fixation--Freud must believe so!). So instead of stocking up in cheetos or chocolates, opt to buy snacks like carrot sticks, celery, apples. Get pistachios or sunflower seeds (more work to eat!), and if necessary (if you're a big eater like I am), put things in smaller packages so that you know how much you've eaten and you should've eaten.

4) Drink water
Staying hydrated usually will help with the cravings, plus water helps flush toxin out of your body.

5) Break your routine
Most likely, smoking is tied into your daily pattern, routines, rituals. Try to mix things up, do things differently so that you don't fall into that old habit.

6) Keep your hand busy
Idle hand crave cigarette. Join a local craft group, start knitting or sewing or do a jigsaw puzzles. Or better yet, teach yourself a new card trick!

Enjoy and good luck