Supplies to Have on Hand When You Quit Smoking

The first several weeks of smoking cessation can be difficult. In addition to cessation aids, it's important to have things you can do to distract yourself in mind ahead of time..before the urge to smoke hits. A little preparation goes a long way.

• Flavored toothpicks.
• Straws or coffee stirrers.
• Hard candies to suck on. Butterscotch and cinnamon drops are favorites.
• Sunflower seeds in the shell. Very messy, but a great way to keep your hands and mouth busy.
• Water. Water is nature's best quit aid. It beats back cravings to smoke, and by keeping yourself well hydrated, you'll improve how you feel overall. Always carry a bottle of water with you in the car. There are several great reusable bottles available that will keep your water cold all day.
• Raw vegetables, fruits, and healthy dips for snacking. Keep containers of clean produce ready to eat in the refrigerator. Try freezing whole grapes and have small bags of them ready for snacking in the freezer.
• Cinnamon sticks.
• Herbal teas. There are several calming teas on the market today. Taking 15 minutes to drink a cup of tea and honey will go a long way toward calming you and beating the urge to smoke at the same time.
• A plan with multiple strategies to bust cravings.
• A list of 101 things to do instead of smoking

Pay attention to the running dialog going on in the background of your mind. We talk to ourselves all day long, and often our thoughts are negative and counterproductive. We tend to believe what we tell ourselves over and over, so give yourself positive cues. It may take some time, but you can change your thoughts and beliefs by training yourself to listen closely to the mental dialog within and correct faulty thinking as it comes along.