Monday, October 27, 2008

The Importance of Quitting Smoking and How to Do It

Quitting smoking is hard. Those who have been addicted to cigarettes know that one of the most difficult things to do in life is to quit smoking. If you have been smoking for a while, there is a great chance that you have tried to quit smoking at some point in your life. You know how dangerous smoking is to your health, but since you have been addicted to this habit you just cannot throw away this habit.
What you should also realize is that you are not the only person at risk when you smoke. Second hand smoking is very dangerous, so the more that you smoke at home or at work, the more that you are risking the health of your friends, relatives, and colleagues.
Smoking can also ruin your relationships with your loved ones, friends, and colleagues who might be turned off by your unhealthy habit.

There are actually endless reasons for you to start considering to quit smoking. However, how exactly would you be able to suddenly give up something that has been your addiction for the past couple of years, or for perhaps, even decades?
One of the best ways for you to try as you start to quit smoking would be to tell everyone that you are putting a stop to your habit. Tell your friends, colleagues, and family members that you are quitting smoking. This will be your control measure and in effect, you are encouraging those around you to support you in your endeavor. The more encouragement you get from those around you, the more likely that you will have an easier time in quitting. Of course you should also have to deal with your smoker friends, who will naturally discourage you in pursuing your plan. Make sure that you would stay focused on what your goals are.
You should also penalize yourself for every cigarette you consume. It can be very unpleasant but this is effective in making sure you get rid of your addiction.
Regularly remind yourself of the many benefits of quitting. You should always bear in mind that quitting smoking would give you a longer life, and thus more years to spend with your loved ones. If you are feeling the urge to light a cigarette, make a visualization of you suffering from smoking-related diseases like lung cancer.
Also, keep in mind that you will be will be saving tons of money when you stop smoking. Estimate how much you are saving, and then buy yourself something, a gift perhaps, out of the said amount.
If you are married and have a family to take care of, imagine for a moment, what they will be thinking about you. Have you ever thought about the ideals your children will be learning from you? Now imagine for a moment, what will happen if you were to make an effort to quit smoking. The positive effect that this will lead to is incalculable.
Let this be a motivation to quit smoking today and live a healthier and happier life.


Althaf Ahmed at Ask Medical Questions

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