Ten Point Plan to Quit Smoking

Robin Hayley, the world’s leading quit-smoking expert and Head of Allen Carr’s Easyway, offers his tips on how to kick the habit.

1. Set your date and time to stop and carry on smoking as usual right up to that time. Don't try to cut down beforehand, that just makes cigarettes seem more precious rather than less so. Look forward to that day.

2. Get rid of the feeling that you are about to “give up” something. Cigarettes do absolutely nothing for you at all. They provide you with no genuine pleasure or crutch, they simply keep you addicted to nicotine.
3. Once you’ve quit, your body will continue to withdraw from nicotine for a few days but that doesn't mean you have to be miserable. The physical withdrawal is very slight and it should pass quickly.

4. If you associate a cigarette with a coffee, tea, drink or break at work, then plan to carry on having your coffee, tea, drink or break. And once you have stopped smoking, at those moments, instead of thinking: "I can't have a cigarette now", simply think: "Isn't it great: I can enjoy this moment without having to smoke".

5. Do not try to avoid smoking situations or opt out of life once you’ve quit. Plan to go out and enjoy social occasions right from the start. If you're offered a cigarette once you’ve quit, just say: "No thanks - I don't smoke".

6. As the day you plan to quit approaches, prepare yourself and don’t let excuses delay your resolve to stop or get in the way of achieving your goal. Once you’ve quit, don't try to avoid thinking about smoking, it doesn't work. Just make sure that whenever you are thinking about it, you're not thinking: "I want a cigarette but I can't have one" but instead: "Isn't it marvellous: I don't need to smoke anymore and I don't want to smoke anymore.

7. Never be fooled into thinking you can have the odd cigarette just because you’re having a particularly stressful day at the office. If you do, you'll find yourself back in the trap in no time at all.

8. Do not keep cigarettes on you at work or anywhere else in case of an emergency. If you do, it means you're doubting your decision. Non-smokers do not need cigarettes. You are already a non-smoker the moment you put out your final cigarette.

9. Life will soon go back to normal as a non-smoker but be on your guard not to fall back into the trap. If your brain ever starts playing tricks on you by thinking "Just one cigarette", remember there is no such thing, so the question you need to ask yourself is not: "Shall I have a cigarette now" but "Do I want to become a smoker again?

10. When you light your final cigarette make a vow that you will never puff on another cigarette or take nicotine in any form again.

Clients can receive a 10% discount off the Easyway Corporate Service. Call 0845 602 0585 and quote ‘Law & More’ or click on the Union Jack when you visit www.allencarr.com

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