Smoking is an unfortunate struggle for many people, leading to a far lower quality of life. If you want the best for your body, it’s a good idea to stop smoking sooner rather than later. However, you need some assistance to make it easier to put smoking behind you, no matter how old you are.
While smoking is addictive, it’s possible to quit with the right tips and tricks up your sleeve. From letting others know you’re quitting to accessing products that make the transition easier, there are ample tactics people of all ages can use to stop smoking. Read on to learn about nine of our suggestions.
Why Is Smoking Bad For You?
There are no benefits to smoking, besides a brief relief someone might get from taking a drag. The negatives far outweigh the good.
Some of the side effects of smoking include the following:
- Heart disease
- Lung cancer
- Cataracts
- Mental health struggles
These are threatening to any life. You might think a light amount of smoking is fine, but that’s not the case. Even light smoking is dangerous and attributed to a higher risk of stroke, heart attack, dementia, lung cancer, and more. It’s best to veer on the side of safety.
1. Tell Others You’re Quitting
One of the first things you should do is tell others you’re quitting. If your family and friends know you’re attempting to stop smoking, they will be far more aware of what they’re doing and prepared to keep you accountable at every turn.
You can also set your boundaries with your family and friends, telling them items that trigger you and things you need them to do to help them stop. Never participate in your journey alone.
2. Know What Tempts You
When trying to beat an addiction, it’s vital to know what tempts you. Know what puts you in the path of danger and keep it away.
Common temptations for smokers include:
- Being around other smokers
- Alcohol
- Social gatherings
Everyone has something different that tempts them to smoke. Clarify these before you start the quitting process and make a plan of action. The better you know your weak spots, the easier it will be to conquer smoking.
3. Access Treatments
For those who want to quit smoking in the world today, it’s possible to access treatments that make it easier to stop. Popular treatments include nicotine replacement, Varenicline, and Bupropion.
It’s always best to speak to your doctor before leaning on any kind of medication to stop smoking. They will be able to guide you in the next best steps.
4. Find Why You’re Quitting
It’s never easy to quit anything that’s addictive. For you to have a powerful motion toward beating a smoking addiction, you must have a reason why you’re quitting.
For some, the proof that quitting smoking early can improve cancer survival rates might be enough. For others, being around for their children might be enough. Find the reason why you want to quit.
5. Get Ready First
You should not jump right into quitting smoking without preparing yourself. Have a set of backup items to lean on to make the process easier.
Common items for help include the following:
Ultimately, it’s up to you to determine which tool works best. Not everyone will react the same to various products.
6. Keep Your Home Clean
Keeping your home clean is a good practice anyway, but it’s especially critical when trying to quit smoking. You need to remove any old hint of smoke from your home, cleaning out the scent as much as possible to avoid any temptations that might cause you to revert to your old ways.
If you are a senior, it’s worth it to hire someone to clean your home for you. They will be able to keep you pushing towards your goal of getting away from cigarettes as soon as possible.
7. Be Active
If you are active, it can help you deal with symptoms of Nicotine addiction and prevent some of the worst feelings of withdrawal. You’re keeping your body in check and distracting yourself with something healthy.
An excellent habit is to get moving whenever you feel the craving set in. You can do anything you want. Ride a bike, scoot on a scooter, or walk around the neighborhood with your pup.
Related: 7 Exercise Accessories for Older Adults
8. Eat Veggies and Fruits
If you’re a senior, eating healthy is critical for more reasons than just avoiding heart disease and lung cancer. Although it might seem tempting to not eat anything when quitting smoking, that’s a bad idea. Instead, nourish yourself with healthy foods.
Some excellent snack options include the following:
- Grapes
- Strawberries
- Whole wheat toast
- Peanut butter and celery
- Nuts
These are some practical and healthy snack choices. Turning to healthy food will keep you full and satiated, keeping extreme longing out of your body. If you starve yourself from food, it will quickly turn into an uncontrollable desire to get back into smoking.
Related: 11 Easy Meals for Seniors to Make on Their Own
9. Find Something to Strive After
Humans are simple, and you might find that picking out a reward for stopping smoking gets you through to the end. Every time you purchase a pack of cigarettes, place the money in a jar and save up for something you want.
You can save for a trip to the spa, a vacation with the family, or a new car you’ve always wanted. Find something you want to work towards and stick with it to stop smoking.
Final Thoughts on Quitting Smoking
There are ample opportunities to quit smoking and plenty of tactics to make it easier. From cleaning your home to finding a goal to strive after, there are many tactics to grasp for a simple experience.
Although it might seem impossible at first, it’s always worth it to keep pushing. Stopping smoking at any age, even in your older years, will make a massive difference.
You May Also Enjoy: The Benefits of Therapy as You Age
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