Many times, a person that is trying to quit smoking reads many articles about what they should do to help them quit smoking. What they do not learn about are the things that should not be done when quitting. You will find a short list of things that should be avoided while you are quitting or after you quit.
It can be quite easy to begin overeating when you are quitting. Eating is oftentimes used as a way to fill the void while quitting. This is one thing that should be avoided. Instead of grabbing a bag of potato chips or a package of cookies, reach for fruits, vegetables or even hard candies. You do not want to gain a lot of weight while you are quitting, nor do you want to begin an overeating habit that you will have to break in the future.
There are probably bad habits that you have that contribute to your smoking habit. This is the time to break those other habits as well. If you continue with those habits, you are going to have an even more difficult time kicking the smoking habit for good. You could easily fall back into the smoking habit and have to start from the beginning once again.
This one could be a hard one for most smokers. Stop hanging around with other smokers! You probably have several friends or loved ones that smoke. Spending time with them will make it that much easier for you to get a smoke when you want to give in. It can also be difficult to smell their smoke without lighting up yourself. If they can avoid smoking around you or even allowing you to see their pack of cigarettes, spend some time with them. If they are not sensitive to what you are going through, they might not be the friends you need anyway.
If drinking alcohol or going to the casinos triggers your cravings for a cigarette, it might be time to give up those habits as well. Many smokers have a very hard time drinking without smoking. It is likely one of the most difficult things that smokers will face as they quit. You will not have to quit drinking forever, just during the first several months or maybe a year while you get through the hardest part of the process.
Do not be so hard on yourself. You are sure to give in and have a smoke here and there. Beating yourself up for it is not going to help at all. Accept that you have made a mistake and do what you can to avoid the type of situation that you were in that caused you to relapse. Learning when and where you are likely to give in will help you now and long into the future.
You now have a good idea of a few of the things that you should avoid doing as you work to become a non-smoker. Keep them in mind as you work the steps and they will really prove effective.