To quit smoking is no easy decision. The first step in any wellness or rehabilitation program is to realize the need for a change. If you already feel the need to quit smoking, you have successfully taken the first and most difficult step! While there are effective counseling therapies that can help you, here are six effective self-help tips to quit smoking.

1. Find the core reason
To get you motivated to quit smoking, you need to find a highly motivating reason to quit smoking. It could be to protect your family from secondhand smoke or regain lost health and feel healthy and young. However, the underlying reason to stop the urge to smoke should be stronger than smoking.

2. Plan the process
Smoking is an addiction that is hard to quits, as the brain is dependent and used to the high from nicotine. Without a proper plan, you will fall into withdrawal and quit. Therefore, speak to your doctor or counselor and learn methods that will help you quit the habit healthily.

3. Nicotine replacement therapy
One of the strongest withdrawals would be frequent and heavy headaches resulting from nicotine withdrawal. This affects the mood and also saps your energy. Nicotine gums, patches, and lozenges could largely improve your efforts to quit smoking successfully.

Also, other prescription drugs can ease withdrawal symptoms such as depression, anxiety, loss of appetite and energy, and problems with concentration. In addition, behavioral therapy and one-on-one therapy are also known to work effectively.

4. Reach out to your loved ones
Ask your family for help with the entire rehab program. Your loved ones and friends can encourage you to keep going, especially when you are tempted to give up and smoke again.

5. Take a break
Smoking helps people relax. When you are trying to quit the habit, it is important you take a break and focus on yourself. That includes exercising to blow off steam or going outdoors and taking a hike! In addition, it is important to treat yourself with some wellness magic like a good spa treatment or get a hobby. It is crucial to avoid getting into a stressful situation, at least for a few weeks after you quit smoking.

6. Avoid triggers that cause you to smoke
When you decide to quit smoking, it is important to say a big NO to alcohol too. This is because, when you consume alcohol, it is difficult to stick to your goals. Therefore, it is crucial that at least for the first 3-4 weeks, stay away from alcohol and find other alternatives like green tea, coffee, or juice.