Nicotine replacement therapies can help with the physical addiction, but having tricks up your sleeve to distract you from the psychological habit can be just as important.
There are two sides to cravings. The first is the physical addiction to nicotine, causing your body to experience withdrawal symptoms when you quit smoking. Nicotine Replacement Therapy can help you manage this, and Nicabate offers a variety of products so you can use the type of treatment that works for you.
If you've tried to quit before, you'll know that the habit of smoking is psychological too, so you need some tricks up your sleeve. If you miss the feel of a cigarette in your mouth, holding something in your hands, or just the act of socialising with other smokers, it's useful to have some distractions that focus your attention on something else for around 15 minutes to keep you from giving in. Here are some ideas.
Breathe
Sit up straight, relax and breath in deeply through your nose, then out through your mouth while you count to five. Breathe like this for a few minutes when you think about having a cigarette. Simple but effective.
Get physical
If you usually go outside for a cigarette break, walk around the block for a few minutes instead. It's amazing what you can find when you explore.
Get spiritual
Now might be a great time to take up meditation. As well as helping lots of people make sense of their life, it's handy because you can do it anywhere.
Get in touch
with your friends or workmates. It might sound simple but taking the time to have a chat helps to break up your day and keeps you away from cigarettes. You could do it online by updating your facebook page or twitter account. Your friends will always be happy to hear from you.
Train your brain
with the hundreds of games and apps available. If you're not careful, you might get distracted for more than a few minutes! Challenge yourself by doing a crossword or practicing your sudoku, keeping you occupied and developing your brain power at the same time.
Shop shop shop
Organise your weekly food shop or buy a new book or DVD online. Have your shopping delivered so you don't have to worry about making the trip to the shops to pick it up, where you might also be tempted to buy cigarettes.
Buy a present
for that upcoming birthday. Everyone's forgotten to buy a card or a gift at one time or another, and it's the thought that counts.
Go surfing
Take advantage of the huge source of information available to you online, by finding the answer to something you've always wanted to know.
Stay up to date
by reading the front page of your favourite newspaper, online or the old-fashioned way.
Plan a trip to the movies
by watching the latest trailers online.
Keep your ear to the ground
There are podcasts, audio books, radio shows and music downloads all available to distract you for a few minutes.
Find a book with short chapters
and read just one to distract you from a craving. Alternatively, read a graphic novel or a magazine.
Plan something worth planning
Get excited about a holiday you're looking forward to, an upcoming wedding or birthday, or even the weekend, and enjoy living in the future for a moment.
Bank
Check your balance online, arrange payments or just keep track of how much you're saving without cigarettes.
Make a list
of things you need to remember - writing shopping lists, reminders, a guest list for a party or even a bucket list could all be useful distractions.
Get to work
Without cigarettes, you might be able to concentrate better on your tasks for the day, keeping you occupied longer.
Eat or drink the right stuff
Drink more water, make a herbal tea, snack on fruit, nuts and seeds. To help overcome cravings you could try Nicabate Minis or Gum.
Treat yourself
It's ok to allow yourself a few small luxuries. If you enjoy chocolate, indulging a little once or twice a week shouldn't hurt and it could stop you missing cigarettes.
These are just some examples of what could distract you from your psychological attachment to cigarettes. It's really up to you and there's no right or wrong way to go about it.
Keeping some tricks up your sleeve to distract you from your psychological cravings can be just as important as dealing with physical nicotine addiction.