By deciding to quit smoking, you’ve already made one of the toughest decisions of your life. But staying smoke-free doesn’t just have to be a test of will power.
For instance, you can make it all much easier by talking to your Healthcare Professional about why and when you’ve wanted to smoke in the past. Understanding these situations and triggers can help you work out ways of avoiding and even beating them just by doing something different:
- For the first few days after quitting, stay away from places that make you want to smoke
- Avoid triggers like coffee and alcohol which you may have linked with smoking in the past
- Remind yourself that any cravings will pass, and try a healthy snack like carrots or cucumber
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated
- Phone a friend: by the time you finish chatting, your craving may have passed
- Within just a few days, your senses of taste and smell will improve, so reward yourself with some new flavours or foods you haven’t tried before