LEAD A HEART-HEALTHY LIFE-STYLE: SOME TIPS ON HOW TO QUIT SMOKING – AFTER QUITTING
During the first few days after you quit, drink large quantities of water and fruit juices. Try to avoid alcohol, coffee and other beverages with which you normally associate your cigarette smoking.
Do something else with your hands. If you used to smoke while driving to work, do exercises with your hands when waiting for the traffic lights to change. If you used to smoke while watching TV, keep a soft drink to sip next to you or munch popcorn or peanuts instead of smoking.
Try to keep away from your smoking friends for a few days.
Don’t sit in your favourite smoking chair.
Change your daily routine: e.g., if you were habituated to a cigarette as soon as you got up, go for a walk instead or have a shower.
Don’t allow you to trick yourself. A few favourite tricks are: “One cigarette won’t hurt”, or “I’ll just have one to prove that I have really been able to quit”. Recognise these symptoms and remember that these are just a momentary weakening of your resolve. Such thoughts should be stamped out as soon as they arise.
Think positive. Keep reminding yourself that you are a non-smoker now. Keep reinforcing the benefits you stand to reap by staying away from cigarettes.
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