Tips To Stop Tobacco Cravings & Quit Smoking
For most people who use tobacco, tobacco cravings or smoking urges can be strong. But you can stand up against these cravings.
Short-acting nicotine replacement therapies — such as nicotine gum, lozenges, nasal sprays or inhalers — can help you overcome intense cravings.
Tobacco urges are likely to be strongest in the places where you smoked or chewed tobacco most often, such as at parties or bars, or at times when you were feeling stressed or sipping coffee.
Don't set yourself up for a smoking relapse. If you usually smoked while you talked on the phone, for instance, keep a pen and paper nearby to keep busy with doodling rather than smoking.
If you feel like you're going to give in to your tobacco craving, tell yourself that you must first wait 10 more minutes.
Give your mouth something to do to resist a tobacco craving. Chew on sugarless gum or hard candy.
Physical activity can help distract you from tobacco cravings. Even short bursts of activity — such as running up and down the stairs a few times — can make a tobacco craving go away.
Take the edge off stress by trying ways to relax, such as deep breathing, muscle relaxation, yoga, visualisation, massage or listening to calming music.
Keep in mind that trying something to beat the urge to use tobacco is always better than doing nothing. And each time you resist a tobacco craving, you're one step closer to being tobacco-free.