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Top Tips When Getting Ready To Quit Smoking

Congratulations!  Your decision to get ready to quit smoking is already a big step towards a life free from bad breath, teary eyes, poisonous chemicals in your system as well as the risk of getting smoking-related illnesses.  Getting ready to quit smoking is the easiest phase in your quest to quit smoking.  However, there are things that can help you when get ready to quit smoking.

To make things easier for you when you are getting ready to quit smoking, look at it as a relationship gone sour.  And like most relationships, there is always that pain factor when saying goodbye.  Here are some of the top tips you can use when getting ready to quit smoking.

Accept that you have an addiction that is hard to get rid of

If you think of your smoking habit as an addiction then you are acknowledging and accepting the fact that you will be facing difficulties when getting ready to quit smoking both emotionally and physically.  You are getting rid of nicotine which stays in your blood for approximately two hours.  Thus, expect an urge to fill your body with nicotine again (read: smoking) several hours after you quit smoking.  And when this happens, make sure you have something to hang on to when the urge to smoke fills your mind.

Avoid things and places that go with smoking

A lot of things and places go along well with smoking like coffee, sad stories, alcoholic beverages and socializing.  When you are getting ready to quit smoking, make sure you also have the courage to avoid going to places and doing things that will remind you of smoking.

Prepare an action plan

Getting ready to quit smoking is one thing; having an action plan is another.  Take your decision to quit smoking as a challenge that requires strategy.  Every strategy requires a plan so part and parcel of getting ready to quit smoking is the creation of an action plan.  It can be a journal where you will write your motivations why you want to quit smoking, your reasons to quit smoking, the hurdles you expect to face when getting ready to quit smoking as well as people and things you can rely on to help you quit smoking.

Create a tracking card

You can use an index card to track your progress in your quit smoking challenge.  Every stick you did not smoke, every day you survive without smoking is a victory so write them on your index card.  Each card will give you strength at times when you are tempted to smoke again.
Buy a piggy bank

Your reason for getting ready to quit smoking may be health or financial but whatever that is, it will be good to keep track of how much money you can save when you quit smoking.  Each time you have the urge to cheat on your quit smoking challenge, roll a paper and drop the corresponding amount of each cigarette into your piggy bank.  Once you become successful in quitting smoking, you can use that money to buy a new dress or a new gadget you have been pining for.

Some people prefer to get ready to quit smoking by smoking less each day.  Quitting cold turkey is better.  While it is advisable to avoid people and places that remind you of smoking, this is only imperative during the first few days or weeks when the urge to smoke is so great. After that you can go on with your regular activities.