Quitting cigarettes on January 1 is likely to cause you to fall off the cart before April Fool’s Day, according to research.
Nearly half of Britain’s seven million smokers want to quit, but only 14 per cent do so as a New Year’s resolution.
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And most of them will smoke again in about 90 days.
But do not despair. Here are some expert hacks that can help you kill the habit forever.
Ice cream and light: Behavioral psychologist Dr. Jo Hemmings recommends that you hold an ice cube to your wrist whenever you feel like it.
She says, “It distracts you and breaks the auto answer to light up.
Exhale: IIf you feel a surge of anxiety that you previously soothed with a cigarette, try the “4-7-8” breathing technique.
Dr. Jo says, “Breathe in to count four, hold it to seven, and then slowly release to count eight.”
Distract yourself: Finding something else to do in five minutes is often enough to distract you from wanting a cigarette.
In her viral TikTok video on combating nicotine addiction, Dr. Jess Andrade to reorganize your phone apps.
Change your friends: It’s way too easy to follow a group of smokers outside to get a slut. At a party, the NHS Stop Smoking site recommends sticking to non-smokers.
Follow the “do not drag” rule: The NHS says, “When you ever get in trouble, say to yourself, ‘I do not even want a single move,’ and keep at it until the urge passes.
Turn on something else: The American Cancer Society recommends that you light a candle or incense stick instead of a cigarette.
Tag and pencil: A big part of smoking is the physical habit, so the American Cancer Society also suggests taking a pencil or paper clip up to satisfy your restless fingers.
Think differently: Allen Carr, bestselling author of The Easy Way To Stop Smoking, advises you to change your mindset. He says, “Instead of thinking, ‘I want a cigarette, but I can not get one,’ say to yourself, ‘Is not this wonderful? I do not need to smoke anymore.’
Change your landscape: Break habits you associate with smoking. If you light up at the breakfast table, have your Frosties in another room.
And Stop Smoking London says, “If you know the triggers, you can handle them.”
Create a strong incentive: Calculate how much money you will save each week by not buying cigarettes, and think about what it can buy as a reward.
You can keep track of your savings on the Smoke Free app, which lets you enter the details of something you want to buy and provides a countdown timer for when you can afford it.
Get help: Tell your friends that you are giving up and call them for help in a weak moment. Find your free local NHS “quit smoking” service. You are four times more likely to give up with professional help.
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