World No Tobacco Day is observed every year on 31 May. This celebration informs the public on the dangers of using tobacco, the business practices of tobacco, what the World Health Organization (WHO) is doing to fight against the use of tobacco and what people around the world can do to claim a healthy life.
Here are a few tips on how to quit smoking:
1. Find a reason to motivate you to quit smoking: In order to be motivated to quit smoking, you need a good reason. Your reason can be to protect family, to have a chance at a longer life and avoid lung cancer and respiratory diseases or to look and feel younger.
2. Prepare before you go 'cold turkey': You cannot just wake up one day and quit an addiction. You need to prepare well in advance. You need to speak to a doctor to ask him how to go about it, you can even consider counselling, medication and seek the help of loved ones.
3. Consider Nicotine replacement therapy: You will definitely crave even one puff of a cigarette but you must refrain if you want to quit. So, in order to do this, you can use nicotine gum and patches to increase your chances of kicking the habit.
4. Rely on loved ones: At a time like this, you may want to pull away but if you have someone you love and trust then lean on them and confide in them while you are on your road to recovery.
5. Give yourself a break: Don't let yourself get sucked into stressful situations. Do things that can make you happy and help you unwind, like listening to music, reading a book, exercising or learn a new skill.
6. Avoid alcohol and other triggers: Drinking will make it more difficult to stick to your no-smoking goal. Whenever you think about smoking do something healthier instead.
It is a difficult road but keep trying and you will get there eventually.
