Using Children to Stop Smoking Successfully

If you have attempted to quit smoking you no doubt realize just how easy it was to get started smoking compared to actually quitting.  Maybe the reason you are trying to quit is to set a good example for your children.  This is one reason why many parents find themselves struggling to quit.  They do not want their children to grow up thinking that it is ok to smoke, and it is necessary that they quit in order to set a great example.  If you find yourself in this position, there are several things you can do to help make the situation much better.

One such idea that you can use would be to actually invite your children to watch the struggle.  This means asking your child to be your help and strength when you are tempted to smoke.  Simply talking to them about your struggles to quit can be a great way to show how difficult it really is, while at the same time getting your issues out in the open.  Many times talking about problems can make them seem much smaller.  This is a great way to help fight the urges of cigarettes as well, after all many parents who have open and honest relationships with their children are able to talk about a lot of issues.  Use this opportunity to talk about things that are important, and encourage the extra support that you receive at the same time.

If you are focusing more on your child when you have an urge to smoke, and less on where exactly your pack of cigarettes is located it will be easier to reduce urges.  You should encourage your child to help you find out remedies to your urges.  For example, going with you to the store to pick out suitable candy to chew on when you get an urge, or even going with you to the store to purchase the stop smoking aid of your choice.

Allowing them to be a part of your decisions can help them to see the exact struggles that you are going through.  If you merely hide your problems behind a closed door, your children may grow up thinking that it is actually easy to smoke.  This could even lead them to being tempted to smoke.  However, just because you are trying to have an open relationship with your child does not mean that you should actually smoke around them.  The harm that second hand smoke can cause should be enough to keep you from lighting up around you; however, you could ask your child to help you maintain a smoking log.

Of course, each family has different ideas about what is acceptable to talk about, and even comfort levels.  If you feel that you are pushing the borders of what you are comfortable with you can always adjust this.  However, using your children to help encourage you to quit is great.  After all, kids are notorious for picking on people and pointing out flaws.  If you allow your child to help you with your smoking urges you may find that you really do not want to smoke anymore at all if your children are busy picking on you the entire time.  No matter what works best for you and your particular situation you need to grasp at any opportunity to encourage a bond and crush the urge to smoke.  Your child will be very proud of you after you have quit, and you will certainly have a much increased self-confidence.

7 Tips to Controlling Your Urge to Smoke

Trying to quit smoking is a very lengthy process.  This can take a very long period of time such as several years, or it could be something much shorter like only a few weeks or months.  The exact time frame that it takes to quit can vary greatly but what is important is ensuring that you are coming up with a plan to combat your urges to smoke.  At some point in your experience trying to quit you will encounter a situation where the urge to smoke is very strong.  How you handle this situation will go a long way towards your ultimate success.  Being prepared for the urge to smoke will ensure that you have a plan to keep your willpower strong and continue on your path to quit smoking successfully.

Tip 1.  Take the time to decide exactly when you typically smoke.  For example, after meals, after a jog around the block, or even after your shower each morning.  Knowing when you typically smoke will put you in a good position to create a plan to combat the urge.

Tip 2.  Create a plan of attack.  This could be something as simple as a stress ball for your hands, or even just a piece of hard candy to keep your mouth busy.  If you really enjoy the taste and feeling of a clean mouth you could try brushing your teeth each time you want to smoke, or suck on a mint flavored candy, which will freshen your breath.

Tip 3.  Avoid the temptations that lurk.  If you go out to eat, make sure you are sitting in the no smoking area.  Avoid going into tobacco stores, and also try to limit the amount of time you are around other smokers.  If you are continuously around cigarettes, it will be much harder to resist temptation.

Tip 4.  Clean your house of all smoking instruments.  This means all ashtrays, lighters, matches and get rid of the smell of cigarettes.  Products like Febreeze are great for helping to get rid of cigarette smell, which can also trigger an urge to smoke.

Tip 5.  If you have a place where you typically smoke when you are at home, think about rearranging the area.  If you are able to break the routine of the situation, you will be able to resist temptation much better.  This works best if you always are in the habit of smoking in the exact same place, such as a living room looking out a window.  If you move the chair to a different area of the room, or refocus the center of the room then you can help to avoid the temptation to smoke whenever you are sitting in the chair looking out the window.

Tip 6.  Write down your goal to quit smoking.  This may seem like a minor detail but in reality, it can go a very long way towards ensuring that you keep your priority to quit smoking at the top of your agenda.  If you just tell yourself that you want to quit smoking, you are more likely to cheat and ultimately give into the urge to light up again.  If you have written your goal down, you are going to be more likely to actually follow it.  This goes for quitting smoking, losing weight, changing your exercise routine or anything else.  Written down goals can improve accountability significantly.

Tip 7.  Do not discount yourself.  If you are absolutely certain that you can succeed you will be much more capable of the success that you need.  It is important to believe that you can succeed.  This will help you to stay strong anytime a serious urge kicks in.  If you decide to slip up consciously, you are going to find it is much harder to gain back any slack that you have cut for yourself.  However, if you hold fast to your dedication to quit smoking you will find that each time you have an urge it is easier to handle.