Quitting smoking will change your life for the better. If you’ve made the decision to quit, you’ve taken that first important step in the right direction.

For most people, it’s not easy to quit. In fact, around 75% of people who try to quit smoking relapse. And most people who do end up quitting, usually do so on the third attempt.

Most relapses are due to people trying to go “cold turkey” or quitting without the necessary support to help them through it.

Here are 5 off the best tips to help you be part of the 25% that successful kick their habit on their first attempt:

1. Plan how and when you’re going to quit

If you want to maximise your chance of quitting, it’s recommended you put some time into planning how you’re going to quit before you try.

The reason most people fail to quit is that they’re not properly prepared. You need to give yourself every possible edge, so planning is a must.

A few pointers to help you outline a plan are;

• Even if you’ve spontaneously decided to quit, start by choosing a day that’s unlikely to be stressful.
• Clear any social engagements in the coming weeks where you would have been surrounded by other people smoking.
• Start telling friends and family you’re going to quit and ask for their support. This means not offering you a cigarette or smoking around you. Some people prefer to not talk about it at all, if you can relate to that make sure you tell everyone.
• Be prepared to fight off the cravings. Nicotine is an addictive chemical, you may need to use nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to help you deal with it.

2. Adopt a positive mindset

You’re going to fight physical and mental cravings when you quit smoking. Having a positive attitude and being strong-willed is vital if you’re to stave off those cravings.

A lot of people find practicing mindfulness or meditation helps. If this sounds like a step too far, at the very least you need to tell yourself you can do it and believe it.

3. Think about what you eat and drink

For a lot of people, smoking is closely related to eating and drinking. Most people smoke after eating a meal, and while they’re drinking and socialising.

These are habits you’re going to have to break. If this means eating smaller meals and not drinking alcohol, this is what you’ll have to do while you’re trying to break free from cigarettes.

Studies have shown that certain foods and drinks make cigarettes more satisfying, too. Red meat, most fast foods, coffee, and alcohol are all known to encourage smoking.

Cutting these out of your diet will not only lessen your cravings, but it’s also a decent general health tip too.

4. Consider nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and Smokeless Chewable Tobacco

NRT is the most common, and one of the most successful quit smoking medications. How NRT works is by giving the user a small amount of nicotine to help them withdraw from this addictive chemical slowly.

Nicotine is safe on its own, it’s the hundreds of other harmful chemicals in cigarettes that cause health issues.

NRT products are flexible and varied. There are gums, patches, nasal sprays, and some other ways you can use them.

Another option that you can take as an alternative is a smokeless tobacco free pouches. This is chewable so this is convenient for you to take anytime or anywhere you go. With it's different flavors you will surely enjoy the taste and feel. 

5. Write down the positives

Quitting smoking doesn’t happen overnight, for most people it takes several months before they’re confident they’ve kicked the habit for good.

Jotting down some of the positive things you’ve noticed since you’ve quit can go a long way to boosting your confidence. You can look at this list if you even start to doubt yourself.

Some of the benefits people typically notice when they quit smoking include:

• Feeling healthier
• Having more energy
• Saving money
• Feeling less stressed and anxious
• A more positive mindset
• Feeling of accomplishment