Stress is one of the leading precursors to smoking, and one of the most common reasons that people who’ve quit smoking return. Many report that they picked up cigarettes again during things such as exams, rushed projects at work, bad times in their marriage, and so on.
To help you in this regard, the first thing you can do is mentally prepare yourself for stressful situations. Many people undergoing trials often feel as if they’re the only ones experiencing this, while everyone else’s marriage is fine, everyone else is handling the workload at the office, and so on.
Stressful situations are part of our modern-day life, and there’s virtually no one without them, so tell yourself that you’re not alone and that these aren’t unusual circumstances.
You can also make note of some more helpful ways to cope with your stress, and one is to deal with the situation directly rather than simply trying to bottle things up. For example, if you and your spouse are having serious problems, it may be time to call a marriage counselor. If you feel crushed under your responsibilities at the office, speak frankly to your boss or manager, and let him or her know that you’re concerned for the company and the clients, rather than simply your own comfort level.
Other ways of coping with stress might be to call on your friends and talk honestly about what you’re going through, or asking someone for guidance. Do you have a school counselor that can help you through exams, or a trusted older relative that always gives good advice?
Alleviating stress also means teaching yourself to relax, and this is key. Many people simply don’t know how to relax and need to learn techniques, other than smoking. For example, yoga and meditation are two great ways of relaxing. So is exercising. Taking a hot bath, reading something engaging, or indulging in a hobby are also great tension relievers.
And it may sound strange, but when you’re under stress, this is an opportune time to get involved with volunteer or charitable work. It helps to put your own problems in perspective when you see how many other people have things much worse than you do, and in addition, it can help you feel good about yourself and your accomplishments as well.