"10 Things You Should Do When Quitting By Traditional Methods"

If you choose to quit smoking by traditional methods, rather than by hypnosis, there are some tips you may want to follow to help you in the beginning stages.

When you are planning on quitting smoking there are some things you can do to make the process easier. You can alter the negative side effects by being prepared. This will help you to be successful and to put down the cigarettes once and for all.

Below are some tips to help you get through it:

1. Set a quit date.

2. Reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke a couple of weeks before you quit.

3. Tell everyone you know that you are going to quit smoking, and tell them your quit date.

4. Buy some plastic straws. Chewing on a straw will keep your hand busy.

5. The night before your quit day, pour water on all cigarettes and cigarette butts. Get rid of ashtrays and lighters.

6. If you smoked in your car, the day before you quit, vacuum and shampoo the carpet and wipe down the interior with something like armorall. Also clean the interior windows.

7. For the first few days it would help you to alter your triggers. If you have a cigarette with your coffee, stop drinking coffee and try tea instead. If you smoke while you drink alcohol, either stop drinking for a while or change from wine to beer for instance.

8. In the beginning change your routine. Maybe plan a three day get-away. The initial few days will be the most difficult. If you smoke on the deck every morning, avoid the deck all together until you are certain the desire to smoke is totally gone.

9. Begin some type of physical activity. When an intense craving hits, go for a walk.

10. Learn meditation and use it when you have cigarette cravings.

11. If drinking alcohol increases your desire for a cigarette and you are having a difficult time giving up the alcohol, try this to help you stop drinking.

If you feel like you may cave in and go buy a pack of cigarettes, just think of the minutes, hours and/or days that you have made it so far. You don't want to throw that time away, because you're getting that much closer to being free from the hold and control cigarettes have had over your life.

Don't forget to have a jar where you will see it often and each day put the money you would have spent on cigarettes into the jar. You'll see it grow and it will be a reminder of the money that's gone up in smoke (wink) over the years.

Discover ways of making it easier to quit.