It is no secret that cigarette smoking is not good for you. Most of us have seen first hand the results of tobacco smoking on the lives and health of loved ones. We may have found our own health impaired as a result of cigarette smoking. If you have reached the point that you are ready to give up cigarettes, here are some tips that may help you get through those first difficult days.

You may have heard of people who just decided to quite cigarettes one day and never looked back. Don’t count on it. Most of us have a rough time the first several days. When you stop feeding your body a steady supply of nicotine, it fights back. You are likely to experience all sorts of sensations, from anxiety to a strange sense of breathing to feeling light headed. The craving for just one cigarette will be so strong that you don’t see how you will make it through. However, if you can stick it out for three days in a row, there will begin a gradual cessation of those feelings as your body adjusts to operating without a shot of nicotine.

Some people find that drinking juices and eating fruits and vegetables that are rich in antioxidants help to make those first few days a little easier to deal with. Tomatoes and tomato juice, along with orange juice, are some examples of things to keep around the house just in case. Don’t increase your use of coffee during this time, as you do not need the extra caffeine. However, working in some green tea may also help calm your jangled nerves.

Along with the physical aspects of your cigarette withdrawal, there are also the psychological habits to break. The fact is that when many of us gather with friends for a drink, we are used to smoking. Some of us were in the habit of sitting in a comfortable chair at the end of the day and enjoying a cigarette. We may be used to having a cigarette just before bedtime. So closely do we associate some activities with having a cigarette that we may wonder if our lives will ever be the same again.

As soon as you can, find something to substitute for cigarettes in your routine. Fix yourself a glass of fruit juice when you relax in your favorite chair. Munch on some popcorn while you hang out with friends at the bar. Try reading a book before turning in at night. The idea is to provide yourself with some other small treat to take the place of doing something that used to give you a lot of pleasure. It may be hard at first, but as you find the right substitutes for cigarettes, you will once again look forward to your daily routine.

Above all, cut yourself some slack. If you lose it one day and have a cigarette, don’t use that as an excuse to go buy a whole carton. Get back into your non-smoking routine and pick up where you left off. Giving up cigarettes takes time and patience. Give yourself plenty of both and you will break the habit.