This article was provided by Alpha Lifestyle Center for Nicotine Addiction, a resource that supports tobacco users on their journey to quit smoking.
How do they get to be so good?
Many kids dream of making it to the Big Leagues, but few get there. Did they lack skill, confidence, equipment (tools), desire, opportunity, or preparation? It’s probably a combination of these things, but it certainly wasn’t left to chance alone. You won’t find a professional athlete who won’t agree that practice, preparation and hard work were critical to their success.
What does this have to do with quitting smoking?
Many former-smokers claim quitting was one of the most difficult things they have ever done. Nicotine is a powerful addiction, so it’s understandable that it will require some practice to get right. It will also require preparation.
How well do you think a baseball player will perform on little sleep and poor nutrition? Preparation (plenty of sleep and a healthy diet) will have a significant effect on performance. Practice and preparation work together to deliver a successful outcome. This is also the case with quitting smoking, chewing, vaping, and cigars.
Can’t I just wait for an easier way to do it?
Will hitting a pitch get easier if you just wait? Quite the opposite. Advancements in research, training techniques, and nutrition will allow pitchers to continually improve, making it even more difficult for batters to connect. Waiting around for a better bat (tool) will unlikely improve the batting average.
In addition, quitting smoking is getting more difficult because tobacco companies work very hard to make their nicotine products more addictive. Products are designed to reach your cells faster and with bigger hits of nicotine. Waiting for quitting to get easier, or for a better drug to help you quit is not a smart strategy.
Don’t look for quitting to get easier – look to get better at quitting.
This means understanding the limitations of your tools (prescription drugs, nicotine replacement therapies, e-cigarettes, hypnosis, and laser therapy) and the importance planning and preparation play in achieving success.
Planning and preparation include creating a personal, customized plan for your quit. Including a quit coach or Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist is proven to help you achieve your goals.
The best hitters in the world have a batting coach, so wouldn’t it make sense to tackle quitting with the help of a quit coach to guide you through the process? Self-quit success rates are only 2-4%. Don’t step up to the plate unprepared. Players wouldn’t make the team with a batting average range of .020-.040.
Go easy on yourself if you’ve had some swings and misses with quitting smoking. It’s all part of the game.
For more information and complimentary resources on smoking cessation visit Alpha Lifestyle Center for Nicotine Addiction.
This article was provided by Alpha Lifestyle Center for Nicotine Addiction, a resource that supports tobacco users on their journey to quit smoking.