Smoking cigarettes is an addictive habit that many students do while in college, but the long-term effects on health are frightening. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that cigarette smoking is the leading cause of death that is preventable with nearly half a million deaths per year.

Did you know that 90 percent of smokers begin smoking cigarettes before the age of 19? More alarming is that 30 percent of teen smokers will keep smoking with a higher risk of death from a cigarette smoke-related illness.

“Teen smoking is a serious health concern,” Dr. Richard Honaker, Chief Medical Advisor at Your Doctors Online said. “Stopping smoking early on increases risk for heart disease, cancer, and many other health conditions that are in the CDC’s top five of leading causes of death.”

If you want to quit smoking while in college to mitigate risk of death and other health complications associated with smoking, you can follow a few, or all, of the following tips to stop smoking cigarettes.

1. Change The Smoking Mindset

Cigarettes have not only a physiological hold on people, but also a mental hold. By changing your mindset about smoking you can increase the likelihood that you will be able to quit. For example, understanding that cigarettes are not something that gives you pleasure, but rather an addictive substance can help shift your perspective.

This can be very beneficial during those moments when you have started to quit, but get the urge. Simply remind yourself that there is no value to cigarettes. You can use mantras and affirmations to help you shift your mindset as well, repeating it until urges subside at that moment.

2. Make A Date With Quitting Cigarettes

Many people try to quit with one day, or even hours before tossing their pack. How many nights before bed have you said this is my last cigarette? Probably quite often, or even last night. But you only end up smoking in the morning.

To change this perpetual quitting, set a strong, steadfast date for quitting. This should be set maybe a month in advance with preparations made to help you quit. For example, you can begin a new hobby prior to quitting. This is even more helpful if your new hobby involves the use of your lungs to advance in, like running.

3. Change Your Smoking Patterns

There are probably times when you crave a cigarette the most, like with coffee or after eating for instance. Prior to your quit date, begin switching up these patterns. You can still smoke, but just don’t smoke in the same pattern. This can make quitting easier, since you are getting out of a routine.

For example, instead of having a cigarette after dinner, forego the smoke for an hour or two and set a new precedent for that smoking routine. Use those mantras during these changes. It will help ease the transition and withdraws once you quit for good.

4. Give Alternatives A Try To Quit Smoking

Quitting smoking simply may not be in the cards, especially when it comes to going cold turkey. Instead of quitting suddenly, you can g the alternative route and potentially slow your smoking until you quit for good.

Nicotine patches and gum have traditionally been the go to for this. However, e-cigarettes and vaping have become the new way to quit for some people. You can choose a vape and buy vape juice online that has lower levels of nicotine than cigarettes. You will also not smell like an ashtray daily too.

5. Understand That It Is Not Socially Awkward

Many people think that they can’t hang out with smokers if they want to quit smoking. This is a common misconception. The change is within you and once you go through withdrawals, you may not crave a cigarette at all. Hanging out with smokers will also give you a taste of your own previous medicine.

Let’s be honest, cigarette smoke smells and is rough on the nostrils when around the smoke. You may have not had this experience, since you were smoking, but after you quit, you will certainly see why people don’t necessarily like it when you blow smoke in their direction.

In Conclusion . . .

The above top five tips to quit smoking are certainly not all the tips, but they are a great place to start while in college. Quitting smoking as early as possible will help you quit easier and reduce your risk for cigarette related health conditions. What are your top tips for quitting smoking?