Smoking can cause serious damage to your lungs, heart, and other critical body structures. If you’re contemplating quitting smoking, today is the day. Quitting smoking can be one of the most important actions you can take to improve your health. Keep in mind that your first days without smoking can be incredibly challenging, but worth the reward.
Since the journey can be difficult, we recommend you consult with an expert for help and support. Professionals from denova Collaborative Healthcare are adequately equipped to help you quit smoking in the safest possible way, and take a whole-body approach.
How to Quit Smoking & Manage It
Quitting smoking has never been easy, and can become even more complicated if you don’t have an effective plan. Medical professionals recommend a few steps you can follow to make the process manageable.
1.) Stick to Your Plan
First off, you should decide when you want to stop smoking. Make an individualized quit plan to help you stay focused and motivated. People have different needs, and there is no one-fits-all-quit plan. Take time to evaluate and create a plan that aligns with your specific needs and requirements. Incorporate every element necessary for your quitting process and follow every aspect accordingly.
2.) Get Support
Creating a personalized quit plan is a vital aspect of your journey. However, it’s also important to seek relevant support to help you get through it. You may need to:
Talk to people who care – The first source of support is your close relatives and friends. Talk to them about your quit day and ask them to be part of the process; especially during the first days of being smoke-free. Lean on positive people as it helps you get through tough times without much struggle. Talk to a quit smoking counselor at denova Collaborative Healthcare for professional support.
3.) Stay Busy
Everything starts and ends in the mind. Keeping yourself busy is a great way to remain distracted. Engage yourself in the activities you enjoy the most, such as:
- Partake in physical exercise.
- Play your favorite game, read, or write.
- Take a walk around the neighborhood.
- Spend time with non-smoking colleagues and family.
- Drink adequate amounts of water.
- Go to the movies.
4.) Avoid Smoking Triggers
Most people smoke when they have strong emotions. A smoking trigger reminds you of an experience in the past that was impacted by smoking. Now that you’ve decided to quit, it is essential to avoid those triggers. Identify the emotions and situations that trigger a craving to smoke and try your best to avoid them. The best ways to approach this are to:
- Replace caffeine with drinking water.
- Alter your routine to avoid activities that might be triggers.
- Spend time with non-smoker friends and family.
- Get rid of cigarettes and other smoke-related items.
5.) Stay Positive
You won’t achieve a smoke-free life overnight; it might take a few days or weeks to be free. Meanwhile, stay positive and focused on your quit plan. On your quit day, make sure you don’t smoke and aim at staying smoke-free for twenty-four hours.
Why Stopping Smoking Matters Even More Today
- Quitting smoking can help reduce your chance of smoke-related diseases such as cancer, emphysema, diabetes, and more.
- Allows your lungs and heart to function appropriately.
- Reduces your risk of life-threatening complications from COVID-19.
- Protects the health of others.
Need Professional Help Quitting Smoking?
Need help quitting smoking? Talking to an expert about quitting smoking may be the support you need to see this through. Reach out to denova Collaborative Healthcare to schedule an appointment with us today.