While everybody’s experience can be different when it comes to walking away from cigarettes, there are a few common events. One of those is that many people need some support to get to the finish line. Of course, there are groups that can help you with that but a little extra assistance could be just a download away.
10 Ways Apps Can Help You Quit
1. They Offer A Supportive Community
When you’re ready to stop smoking, it’s important to have people to talk to who are either dealing with the same thing or have gone through it before. Many quitting apps offer a community board or chat feature where you can contact other people. Depending on the app, these people may also be medical professionals.
2. They Track Milestones
You might have been encouraged to take your quitting journey one day at a time. While this is great advice, it doesn’t give you the opportunity to see how far you’ve come. Apps can show you the milestones you’ve accomplished since you quit smoking. Seeing that can be a nice motivator to keep going.
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3. They Give Helpful Facts
There’s nothing like shocking statistics and fun facts to motivate you on your journey. Some apps will tell you how much money you’ve saved, the years you’ve added to your life, and other positive impacts on your health since you’ve quit. Better yet, if you include a personal purchase goal in the app, it can tell you how much closer you are to getting there.
4. There’s Daily Motivation
Depending on the app, you might get daily motivational messages or a small challenge that you can choose to accomplish. They’re both designed to keep you in the mindset of staying on track.
5. They Describe Health Changes
There are many health benefits to leaving cigarettes behind. For example, you’ll have better lung capacity, your risk of heart disease will decrease, and you’ll experience better circulation. Some apps will show your daily health progress as motivation. You can see how quickly you’re approaching having a healthy pulse rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and other important markers.
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6. They Give Craving Advice
Cravings are unavoidable when you’re not smoking anymore. Apart from giving you access to a helpful community, many apps also offer advice for dealing with cravings. Typically, there’s also an option to record what triggers a craving so the app can give you options for dealing with them in the future.
7. They Can Be Personalized
Generic advice doesn’t always work and that’s why many apps give you options for personalization. That means you’ll get advice that’s attached to your particular journey. You can even set the pace at which you’d like to quit to be more successful.
8. They Track Your Goals
Another good thing about these apps is that you don’t have to rely on their built-in incentives. You can enter small goals or rewards for yourself and the app will track things for you. For example, if you want to go to the movies after a week of no cigarettes, an app can track each day and motivate you.
9. They Can Offer Distractions
Many apps have small games or other creative channels that can distract you if you’re thinking about cigarettes. The games give enticing rewards and badges while the creative options can include drawing or painting.
10. They Can Offer Coping Strategies
Many health professionals recommend cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) as part of quitting. This kind of therapy focuses on identifying problematic behavior and learning techniques to manage them. Certain apps have these strategies included. While they won’t replace therapy, these apps can be a great addition to in-person counseling.
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Why Apps Usually Work
It’s estimated that apps are typically helpful because they act as a support system in your pocket. They can offer motivation to quit smoking through an accessible community, virtual rewards, objective statistics, and personalized guidance. Additionally, using apps can show the milestones you’ve reached and the positive impact quitting has on your health. If you choose an app that suits your needs, it will also complement any other quitting tools that you’re using.
Whether or not you’re having a hard time quitting cigarettes, using an app can be the boost you need to walk away for good. To make sure you’re on the right track, take your time choosing an app so you know it’s a good fit.
