“The key is focusing on the positive. Build up the good things in your life and smoking will go away by itself.”
The first two words a cigarette consumer reads when purchasing a pack is, ‘Smoking Kills’. However, the addiction and sheer force of habit have enured them to this much talked about warning. For many smokers who have tried to give up, there are some triggers or stressors that push them back into the habit. Smoking not only hampers one’s health but also negatively affects people around the smoker. For a long and healthy life, it’s imperative to quit smoking. Kicking this one bad habit can unlock many health benefits, including –
· Decreased risk of diseases such as Heart/Respiratory/Cancer.
· Decreased risk of losing vision
· Decreased risk of infertility for both men and women
· Improved sense of taste/smell
· Improved personal life
Most people are aware of the benefits of quitting smoking. It’s the lack of self-control and a reduced sense of self that prevents them from giving it up. Here are some tips that will help introspect and give one the strength to quit smoking.
Find your WHY
The most important step in quitting is to ask yourself, why do you want to quit smoking? Most people fail to quit because they are unable to justify stopping. The process of finding your reason is to find out how smoking has negatively affected your life – be it with your family, friends, loved ones, or your own health. Find a reason that outweighs your desire to smoke.
Be with the right PEER GROUP
A non-smoking and supportive peer group is an important part of quitting. Peer groups highly influence your decision to smoke or not and they can be your family, friends, colleagues, etc. Finding the right kind of group to spend your time with is essential to the process and gives you the ability to grow positively.
Avoid COLD TURKEY quitting
Quitting smoking is a process and not an activity that you can simply stop one fine day. Doing so can lead to withdrawal symptoms since the brain is addicted to nicotine and also the habit of going for a smoke. Planning your process is important as it gives you time to speak to your doctors in coping with withdrawal symptoms.
A LIFESTYLE change
Planning to quit smoking itself is a big lifestyle change but to make it a complete success, starting over your life by breaking unhealthy habits is the way to go. Exercising, eating vegetables and fruits, affirmations, cleaning, and organizing your life are a few positive activities to adopt when you decide to quit. Take this opportunity to give your life a complete makeover.
Economical
Cigarette smoking is not just an expensive affair for your health but also for your pockets. It can lead to a lifetime of treatment costs from health issues and also paying an extra premium if you avail health insurance. The insurer is aware that a smoker is more prone to illnesses and thus there is a higher premium cost that one has to pay. Note: Smokers can enjoy a comprehensive health insurance policy and will be given the same benefits as a non-smoker. The only difference is that they will have to bear the extra premium cost. We suggest that a smoker should make it a priority to cover themselves and their family under comprehensive Health Insurance as they are in a high-risk category for critical illnesses. There are multiple ways one can quit smoking, the effectiveness of any of them depends on the willpower of the individual as well. The decision to quit smoking can be transformational and give you a chance at life again!
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
