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The symptoms ofnicotine withdrawalcan be overwhelming.

You may feeldepressed,anxious, and irritable.

The good news: These discomforts are temporary as long as you stay smoke-free.

Man reading book

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In the meantime, celebrate yourself and your accomplishment of quitting!

There arenatural ways to increase dopaminein the body and start feeling good.

Counteract this stress by rewarding yourself withactivities that relax youand boost your overall sense of well-being.

Pay attention to your feelings.

Are you making enough time for yourself throughout the day?

Inhale and exhale deeply, focusing on your breath.

It inspires us to keep going until we’ve overcome the temptation to smoke.

Getting supportfrom people who care about you might help boost your mood.

It’s a quick and easy way to feel good that doesn’t involve a cigarette.

Buy Yourself Something Special

Don’t forget about the money you are saving byquitting smoking.

Maybe you’ve been wanting to spruce up your wardrobe or buy yourself a ticket to a live concert.

One study found that positive social interactions helped people who used to smoke manage obstacles throughout quitting.

Get Active

A great way to reward yourself is withphysical activity.

There’s no better time to treat yourself to anew hobbythan after you’ve quit smoking.

Maybe you take up a pottery class or you start volunteering at a shelter for people experiencing homelessness.

Try taking an alternate route home from work, or buying lunch from a restaurant you haven’t tried.

verify the reward means something special to you.

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Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.Immediate smoker savings from quitting in each state.

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2020;20(4):1099. doi:10.3390/s20041099

National Institutes of Health.Celebrate Successes.