Why You Should Quit Smoking

Smoking is a highly additive habit, and most smokers find it very difficult to quit. The reason why it is so difficult to quit smoking is that addiction is multifaceted: not only is it a physical dependence on nicotine, but there is a strong psychological component to addiction, as smoking is both legal and in many cases socially acceptable. One of the biggest indicators that your attempt to quit smoking will be successful is how mentally prepared you are. To be successful, you have to really want to quit, and if you try to quit without that mindset, it's unlikely to work. A good way to motivate yourself – to get to a point where you truly and truly want to quit smoking – is to consider the health risks involved and the many benefits of quitting. The health risks associated with smoking are well known, but it's a good idea to reconsider them if you're trying to quit. By smoking, you greatly increase your chances of lung cancer and heart disease. In addition to an increased risk of premature death, you will have breathing difficulties as a smoker. Another thing to consider is that as a smoker, you are putting others at risk from secondhand smoke. It is a well-known fact that passive smoking can be very harmful to the health of your loved ones, especially in the long run. Now, if you're a smoker out there, chances are you're aware of these factors and the information can be pretty sobering. All is not lost, however, and to motivate yourself to quit, you should consider the immediate benefits it will provide if you quit. Almost immediately, you will notice that your sense of smell will improve. Smell plays a very important role in the taste of food, so your sense of taste will increase significantly, and you will find that you enjoy the food more. Also consider the money you will save. Cigarettes can be very expensive depending on where you live, and the general trend is that the price will continue to rise in the future. Even the rather generous assumption of $5 per pack means that if you break the one pack-a-day habit, you'll save almost $2,000 in the first year. A great technique for motivating yourself when you first quit smoking is to put the money you would spend on cigarettes in a jar each day, where you can see it piling up constantly: Even after the first week, you'll have $35 - a nice enough meal to treat yourself to. By constantly reminding yourself of the benefits of quitting smoking, you provide yourself with important mental motivation: consider not only your own health benefits, but also the benefits of those around you who suffer from secondhand smoke. Add to that the amount of money you'll save, and it becomes harder to justify the smoking habit. Quitting smoking is a win-win situation, and thinking about it this way will provide you with an important mental weapon in your attempt to quit.