Regardless of which option you choose that you feel will assist you to stop smoking, the first three days are the hardest. This is when the physical symptoms of nicotine leaving your body is felt the most. Common symptoms such as irritability, feeling sleepy or fatigued, and that slight headache that never seems to go away, are all common symptoms of withdrawal.

The good news is that if you prepare mentally for your stop smoking day, many of the symptoms will not make you feel like you have to lock yourself in a closet. Letting friends and family members know that today is your stop smoking day (if you feel they would be a help and not a hindrance) would be a good idea and since it’s common knowledge about how people act when they stop smoking, you may just get the house to yourself for the day.

What are the symptoms of withdrawal? What are you going to feel? By planning beforehand, you can alleviate a lot of these problems before they arise. Here are a few things you may want to include on your list:

Agitated or angry: Find something to do to take your mind off things. In solitude is probably best.

Feeling overly emotional or sensitive: Find yourself some solitude and let the feelings out.

Feeling tired: I will allow myself to take a nap or lounge around for the day.

Feeling nauseated: I will drink a glass of water (helps with nausea, as do apples and ginger).

After a meal I will: get out and take a walk, or clear the table.

Drinking lots and lots of fluids, especially water, is a great way to clear the nicotine from your system as the fluids will metabolize your body’s chemical stores. Side effects, at worse, are more frequent bathroom breaks and a water-logged stomach. The upside is that the faster the nicotine leaves your system, the sooner the physical symptoms will subside.

Some theorize that drinking beverages with caffeine in them can cause your withdrawal symptoms to worsen. Others find that it makes absolutely no difference whatsoever. Each individual’s situation is unique. If you find that caffeinated drinks are causing you to crave cigarettes, then it would be best to cut back or stop completely.

Sometimes giving up too many things at once can also open up another can of worms, so maybe just try cutting back on the caffeine. Water, fruit juices, and even ice cream shakes, can help clear out your system and get those withdrawal symptoms done with faster.

A very common side effect during the first few nights is finding it difficult to fall asleep and then to sleep soundly. Even though you might have been exhausted throughout the day, when it’s time for bed it seems like everything is racing through your mind and you can’t get comfortable.

Taking a nice hot shower or a soothing bath, just prior to going to bed can be very helpful and can help you become relaxed enough to fall asleep. Normally, this will only last one or two nights at the most, but if it becomes persistent, you may want to consider taking an over-the-counter sleep aid for a night or two. Your sleeplessness won’t last for long.

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