One way to insure that you succeed in giving up cigarettes is to involve yourself with a support group. When you feel like giving up, or you forget why you quit smoking in the first place, they can bolster your strength and help keep you on course. In addition, they can make sure you’re responsible for the promises you’ve made regarding your decision to quit.
Here are some tips for making the most of your support group:
Your support group should consist of those who care about you and are willing to aid you in your efforts to kick your smoking habit. They can be your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, boss, church members, pastor, or a professional support system such as your healthcare provider, therapist, nurse or a community group for those who have quit smoking.
Be accountable to one person for the completion of your tasks and goals. This will help prevent you from cheating and sneaking a cigarette.
Don’t allow anyone to be negative or to constantly nag. Let everyone know that you’re making this decision to quit smoking and you need to have positive supporters who will encourage you to achieve your goal.
Be your best supporter by believing in you. Believe that you can be successful. Support your goal by deliberately stating what it is that you dislike about your smoking habit. Admit your dependency on nicotine and don’t underestimate the negative impact it’s had on your body.
An ideal way to support your goal is to keep a Smoke Free Journal so that you can record all the important steps you take from day 1 right though the milestones – week 1, month 1, your 3 month anniversary, 6 months, and 1 year of being smoke free. Recording your failures and triumphs will inspire you later down the road. It may even inspire someone else to succeed.
Support your goal not only by clearly defining when and how you will quit smoking, but make sure that you have the information that you need to cover all the bases regarding any obstacle you may encounter on your journey to being smoke free. Talk to others in your support group who have successfully quit. Listen to their helpful tips and ask about any quit smoking aids they’ve found helpful.
It’s not easy to quit smoking by yourself. Having a support group not only keeps you accountable for doing what you set out to do, your support group can remind you why it’s important to you during those times when the cravings may cause you momentarily forget. They can help keep you focused. Never forget that you are breaking an addiction and support is vital.
