Help & Advice On How To Successfully Stop Smoking

Why you should stop smoking

The reasons why you should quit smoking are positively endless; and truthfully, if you're considering breaking the habit, you likely already know why you should. However, to give you that firm push that you may well need, here's a list of reasons why you should stop smoking tobacco.

Tobacco is packed full of carcinogenic chemicals, and smoking these chemicals can have some nasty consequences.

If those reasons aren't quite enough for you, it can also leave your clothes, skin, and hair smelling pretty pungent as well as cause staining and discolouration of your skin and nails.

How To Stop Smoking 

Mental Preparation

The first step in your journey towards a healthier, cigarette-free life is to mentally prepare yourself. There are going to be difficult days ahead, but you have to power through it and remind yourself of all the reasons as to why you want to stop smoking.

One Day At A Time

Stopping the use of an addictive substance is not an easy undertaking, and there are going to be days when it feels like a monumental task – but it IS possible, and you CAN do it. Just take it one day at a time, and if you fall off the wagon and end up smoking a cigarette or two, don't beat yourself up over it.

Putting yourself under too much pressure is unhealthy and can lead to unnecessary stress. This stress could then cause your Nicotine cravings to intensify, making things more difficult in the long-term.

Managing Cravings

Nicotine cravings are one of the biggest hurdles to overcome for those who've recently quit cigarettes or cut back on their tobacco use – but there are multiple ways to conquer your cravings!

Alternatives to Smoking:

Vaping

Vaping is unequivocally one of the best alternatives to smoking thus far; it's proven 95% safer than smoking tobacco and doesn't cause any of the harmful health problems associated with cigarettes and tobacco usage.

Vaping will give you a similar sensation to if you were smoking, but allows you to control your Nicotine intake and reduce it gradually – increasing your chances of successfully quitting smoking!

Nicotine Patches

Nicotine patches are another alternative to smoking, as they gradually release nicotine into your system. Although nicotine patches can potentially cause skin irritation and soreness, as it's possible for you to be allergic to some of the ingredients they contain, such as the adhesives.

Chewing Gum

Chewing Gum can help you curb your cravings, but isn't necessarily the best option if you want to protect your teeth. Chewing Gum can contain a lot of sugar, which can increase the risk of tooth decay, or exacerbate existing dental issues.

New Routine

Breaking a habit can be hard – but by developing a new routine, you can make the process much easier. For instance, if you're used to waking up and having a cigarette with your morning coffee before your breakfast, switch things up a little by having your breakfast before your coffee! It might sound silly, but it's been proven to be super effective!

When you stick to a routine, your brain begins to expect certain things at specific times, for instance if you usually have your first coffee at 7am, you'll find that you begin to crave caffeine around this time; this is because your brain has come to expect it. So by changing up your routine, you can avoid this scenario and tame your Nicotine cravings!

Track your Savings

Smoking is an expensive habit, and it's only going to get more expensive as the tax is raised. With the current Cost of Living Crisis, it's more important than ever to cut back on costs, and in this case you can do that but cutting back on smoking, or quitting cigarettes entirely. If ever you feel tempted to start up again, think about how much money you've saved by making the switch; or better yet, keep track of how much you would have spent if you still smoked! You'd be surprised how quickly it all adds up.

Goals & Aspirations

Having something to look forward to and focus on such as a goal or aspiration can really help during this time as it keeps your mind occupied and distracts you from any potential nicotine cravings.

Having a goal or aspiration to work towards can also help keep you focused on your future and what you want to achieve, rather than your past and what you've left behind.

Positive Outlook

Although it's a little cliché, it's also true! Maintaining a positive outlook is key to helping you kick your habit – if you're happy and practising positive thinking, you're less likely to give in to temptation. Believe in yourself, and that you can do this!

Reaffirmation is a great tool to keep on your arsenal against smoking; look in the mirror and repeat something positive about yourself, and a reminder that you can quit smoking and that you will quit smoking.

Gradual Cessation vs. Cold Turkey

Can you stop smoking "cold turkey"? Whilst it's certainly possible to stop smoking this way, it does take an immeasurable amount of willpower and perseverance to do this, as suddenly depriving your body of something that it's addicted to can have some unpleasant consequences that can push some individuals back towards smoking.

Gradual Cessation, such as cutting down the amount of cigarettes you smoke or replacing the method by which you acquire your Nicotine hit, is a much better method of quitting as it puts less strain on you both physically and mentally.

Quitting Cigarettes – What it does to your body

What happens to your body when you stop smoking? One of the first things that you will experience is withdrawal symptoms; these can range from nausea, irritability, constipation, night sweats and a loss of appetite. However these symptoms are temporary and will likely last approximately a week before lessening.

You'll also find that due to the fact that nicotine is a stimulant, your blood pressure may become lower as you stop smoking.

You should find that the longer you go without smoking, the easier you will find breathing as your lungs will begin to clear themselves of built-up tar – although expect to develop a cough as your body rids itself of these irritants. 

Get started in your quitting journey, by trying out one of our starter vaper kits.

For more information on quit smoking, and expert health advice, please see the following links:

1. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/quit-smoking/nhs-stop-smoking-services-help-you-quit/
2. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/quit-smoking/using-e-cigarettes-to-stop-smoking/#:~:text=There's%20evidence%20that%20they%20can,such%20as%20patches%20or%20gum.
3. https://www.webmd.com/connect-to-care/vaping/vaping-smoking-cessation-tool-pros-cons
4. https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2020/03/05/8-things-to-know-about-e-cigarettes/
5. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/dec/28/vaping-is-95-safer-than-smoking-claims-public-health-england