Self Care to Quit Smoking

If you want to quit smoking, use these self care tips for support.

Take time to relax and reward yourself with healthy, pleasurable activities, including massage.

Self-massage to your hands may reduce craving and withdrawal symptoms as you stop smoking:

Both acupuncture and hypnosis have helped many people quit smoking. Ask for referrals to these professionals.

Make sure you drink plenty of water. Drinking water aids the functioning of the whole body including your circulation and kidneys, which are both involved with relieving the body of waste products and will play a large part in ridding your body of nicotine. Saunas, steams, and hot tubs are also good tools to help you "sweat it out" as you stop smoking.

Regular exercise can also help you feel better by improving your circulation and releasing endorphins, the body’s natural "feel-good" hormones.

Try this relaxation exercise. Close your eyes and tense all your muscles and then relax them as fully as possible. Let you arms fall by your side and let your chin fall onto your chest while you inhale deeply, filling your lungs with air. Hold it briefly.

Slowly release the air from your lungs as you exhale and keep breathing out until you feel as if you can’t breathe out any more. Imagine that as you breathe out all the tension and stress is leaving your body from your fingers and your toes. Repeat this process three times. Repeat as often as you need while you are withdrawing from nicotine.

Don’t expect too much too fast. Turning around a nicotine addiction may take time, and good habits that will last your lifetime are often best developed gradually. For more support, take a look at How to Quit Smoking Even If You Don't Want To.