8 Best Ways to Quit Smoking

So, you want to quit smoking. Great!

No matter how long you’ve been a smoker, there’s never NOT a reason to quit. Tobacco smoking is one of the leading causes of cancer, heart disease, lung disease, stroke, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. 

Put simply, smoking is the fastest way to an early death. 

And that’s not all. Secondhand smoke is dangerous to the health of everyone around you: your friends, family, coworkers, and anyone else in your vicinity. It’s especially harmful to kids, who are at higher risk of respiratory infections when constantly exposed to cigarette smoke. 

But here’s the good news! When you quit, you can gain back nearly a decade of life. Food will taste better, your sense of smell will improve, and you’ll have a lot more time on your hands. 

You’ll also save thousands of dollars (cigarettes are expensive, folks!)

Giving up smoking might seem tough at first, but there are lots of ways to make the process a little easier. It’s all about having the right mindset and the right tools. 

Here are our top tips for quitting smoking for good!

1. Change your environment
   Environmental cues and triggers can be very powerful. What changes can you make to your everyday environment so that you think less about smoking? For example, if you usually light up on your front porch or while watching TV, try removing some of the triggers in those areas. Throw out your ashtrays and clean each area thoroughly to get rid of the smell. An air purifier can help. Add some distractions to take your mind off lighting up, like artwork, music, or books.
   
   2. Tell other people
   The support of friends and family can be invaluable. Announce your plan to stop smoking, and they’ll help hold you accountable. After all, it’s not just you who stands to benefit!
   Friends, family, and acquaintances can provide emotional support during challenging moments, celebrate your milestones, and remind you of your reasons for quitting when temptation arises. Their encouragement and shared experiences can help reinforce your determination.
   
   3. Try nicotine gum and patches
   One of the best ways to quit smoking is with the help of smoking deterrents and nicotine replacement products. These are particularly useful for managing those cravings during the first phase of your journey to being smoke-free.
   Nicotine-based chewing gum can help you to manage your withdrawal symptoms as you work towards giving up completely. It also serves as a useful distraction from lighting up. 

Habitrol Chewing Gum contains 2mg of nicotine (cigarettes contain around 10-12mg) so it’s a great alternative to going cold turkey. And it’s a delicious fruit flavour! 

Patches like Nicorette 16-hour Invisipatch are also helpful for tackling cravings. Simply stick a patch onto your skin and leave it in place all day. They’re small and discreet, so you can wear them under your clothing. The patches release a steady dose of nicotine throughout the day, which is absorbed through your skin. Different brands are available in different strengths, so you can reduce your dose over time. 

4. Start exercising
   Here’s a distraction with no end of benefits: exercise!
   Within a few days of giving up, the oxygen levels in your blood will start to improve. Your heart and lung function will become more efficient over time, and exercise will feel much easier.
   So, why not use the time you would usually spend smoking to get out and active? You’ll not only take your mind off cigarettes, but you’ll be improving your physical and mental health. Exercise also triggers the release of endorphins: the ‘feel good’ brain chemicals that can help improve your mood and reduce cravings.
   Best of all, those fitness gains will encourage you to stay off the smokes for good! Join a gym or a group exercise class for extra motivation, or set a goal of running a 5k. Once you start to make progress, you’ll be less tempted to go back.
   
   

5. Switch to an inhaler
   A nicotine inhaler helps to manage your cravings by delivering a low dose of nicotine while keeping your hands busy! It looks similar to a cigarette and replaces the physical action of smoking a cigarette, while delivering a small dose of nicotine. By taking small puffs over short sessions (about five minutes) you can help ease your body off the habit.
   The Nicorette Inhalator is the only inhaler with nicotine clinically proven to help with quitting. Each pack comes with an inhaler and 20 nicotine inhaler cartridges, which can certainly get you on the path to becoming smoke-free. Each cartridge is designed to last about 20 minutes in total.
   
   6. Learn relaxation techniques
   If you previously used smoking as a way to relax, you may find that techniques such as meditation or yoga can act as a substitute.

Research suggests that mindfulness meditation can actually help you quit successfully. One study found that when people who were trying to give up smoking spent two weeks learning how to meditate, 60% were able to quit. This is thought to be because meditation stimulates parts of the brain related to self-control, helping to strengthen resistance to the smoking urge. 

Check out meditation classes online or download an app such as Headspace or Aura.
Yoga classes can help relieve physical and mental tension by improving relaxation and body awareness, which can be particularly helpful during the quitting process.

7. Get some funded medication

Yes, you can get some nicotine replacement products for free! Nicotine patches, gum, or lozenges can be ordered from Quitline. You only pay $5 when you pick them up from a pharmacy. Bargain Chemist is one of the pharmacies that can provide these funded products without a prescription. Learn more at Quitline.co.nz. 

8. Find a support group

Joining forces with other quitters can make a huge difference to your willpower! Quitline NZ offers fantastic support with a free helpline, blog community, and Facebook page. You can also register to receive motivational messages by phone, text or online to help you stay on track.  Smokefree.org.nz also offers behavioural support services, wellness advice, and kaupapa Māori support services. 

As difficult as it might seem to begin with, breaking the smoking habit could be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make. Bargain Chemist is here to support you! Check out our full range of smoking deterrents and nicotine products online or in store.