Managing stress is a key part of quitting smoking
Relax
Our bodies respond to stress by releasing hormones that increase your heart rate and raise your blood pressure. Practicing relaxation techniques, like the ones below, may improve your health and help you handle your stress in positive ways.
Breathe
Take a few slow, deep breaths—in through your nose, out through your mouth. You will feel your body start to relax.
Locate Your Stress
A warm bath, a massage, or stretching can help you release built-up tension.
Visualize
Think of a place where you feel safe, comfortable, and relaxed. Picture it as clearly as you can, including imagining what you would feel, hear, and maybe even smell if you were in that relaxing place. Enjoy being there for a few minutes.
Exercise
Being active sends out natural chemicals that help your mood and reduce your stress. Sometimes a short walk is all it takes to relieve stress.
Talk
You don’t have to deal with stress alone. Share your feelings with friends, family, and other important people in your life who are able to support you in staying smokefree.
Focus
Try to focus on what is happening now, not what you might have to deal with in the future.
Care of yourself
Eating a balanced diet, drinking lots of water, and getting enough sleep.
Do Good
Doing something nice for others . Being caring toward others helps you reduce your own stress.
Decaffeinate
Caffeine can help you stay awake, but it also can make you feel tense, jittery, and stressed. Cutting back or even doing away with caffeine can help reduce your feelings of stress. Switching to herbal tea or even hot water with lemon gives you a chance to enjoy a hot beverage but without the caffeine.
Accept
Life is full of twists and turns. You’ll always have some stress in your life.