As a former smoker, I can empathize with the many who want to quit smoking in the New Year. It’s one of the most common New Year’s resolutions every year. It’s that way for good reason, as cigarettes can be horrible for your wealth.
That also doesn’t mention the high cost associated with this habit. If you want 2024 to be a smoke-free year for you, here are 11 ways to accomplish your goal.
Know Your Reason
As with any significant goal, having a reason is essential to success. Your reasons may vary from wanting to reduce expenses to protecting your family and improving your health.
The reason(s) don’t really matter. What’s key is you think through your why. Keeping that in front of you as you pursue your goal will increase your chances of success.
Don’t Do It Cold Turkey
It’s a challenge, at best, to overcome any long-term habit or addiction. Going cold turkey may prove effective in the short term, but it’s often not the best course of action.
Discuss the change with your doctor and ask if he or she has recommendations for help. Taking these preparatory steps prior will only help you in the long run.
Try Nicotine Replacement
Nicotine is an incredibly addictive chemical. It’s possible you will experience some withdrawals as your body processes through not having it.
There are various replacements, from gums to patches, that can aid in your goal. Consult your doctor to identify the top choices for you.
Have an Accountability Partner
You may want to go it alone to achieve your goal of stopping smoking. With such an important goal, you want to put yourself in the best position possible to achieve it.
Having an accountability or success partner is one way to do that. Studies show that having either elevates your probability of success to at least 65 percent.
They can be a great resource to not only encourage you but challenge you.
Find a Way to Relax
Smoking helps people relax. You want to find a new way to decompress, and it’s important to customize it to your interests.
Possibilities can range from exercise to starting a new hobby and more.
Avoid Triggers
Do you pair smoking with having a drink? It’s not an uncommon practice for many smokers.
In the beginning, you want to avoid these triggers. This is more mental than anything. If something naturally pairs with smoking in your mind, avoid it if possible.
Keep Yourself Busy
If you’re busy, it’s not as easy to have a smoke. Breaking any long-term habit is difficult, but if you fill your days, you have less of a chance to give in to the urge.
Get creative with how you keep yourself busy. Clean your house. Give a friend a call. Go out to a movie.
Anything that keeps you busy can be a helpful way to find success.
Get Active
Many people who try to quit smoking do so for health reasons. Why not double dip on your goal and begin exercising to get fit?
Not only does it keep you busy, but it also promotes various other health benefits. You don’t need to spend a lot either.
If you have a Netflix subscription, the platform has workout videos. Tubi, the free ad-supported streaming service, does as well.
Keep Trying
According to the CDC, only seven percent of people who quit smoking annually are successful. That’s not to discourage you but to encourage you to keep trying if you slip up.
Instead of viewing it as a failure, use it as a way to learn how to do better the next time. Then, learn why you didn’t succeed and make plans for the next attempt.
Give Yourself Grace and a Reward
It’s difficult to break any long-term habit. You want to give yourself grace when you struggle or give in to your urges. You’re human and no one is perfect.
Don’t overlook treating yourself to something, either. You will have a newfound stash of cash, so think of something to gift yourself when you reach a goal.
Get Help
If you do an internet search for how to quit smoking, you will see a toll-free number to call for help. That’s a free resource you can use for help.
Ask your doctor for resources you can use for assistance. There are plenty of tools available to help you achieve your goal.
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I’m John Schmoll, a former stockbroker, MBA-grad, published finance writer, and founder of Frugal Rules.
As a veteran of the financial services industry, I’ve worked as a mutual fund administrator, banker, and stockbroker and was Series 7 and 63-licensed, but I left all that behind in 2012 to help people learn how to manage their money.
My goal is to help you gain the knowledge you need to become financially independent with personally-tested financial tools and money-saving solutions.
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