Due to its strong emotional and relaxing effect, listening to music could successfully diminish the urge for smoking. This transformation is possible because music changes the contextual situation and diverts one’s mind from the habit. It is very helpful to play soothing tunes in the moments you are used to smoking, like after eating or during break at work. One of the aspects of smoking that is most hard to abandon is its stress-relief effect. Many people light up when under pressure, to take a mental break or simply by habit. Because of its calming effect, music could neutralize this urge. This does not mean you need to listen to chill-out by all means. Whatever rhythm works for you, black metal included, could be used as a stress reliever.
Another way to fight the so-called “mental addiction” is through meditation. It is not hard to learn to control your mind and only requires some practice. The easiest way is to sit, relaxed, with eyes closed. The goal is to focus and not let your mind drift. Meditation is considered a way to feel the energy around you and become an entity with it. It is not about alienating oneself from the surroundings, but, on the contrary, about feeling more intensely the smallest details of everything.

Instead of shutting off all sounds, you need to listen to them, starting with the loud noises and then concentrating on the ones that are hard to make out. Afterwards, you should focus on your breathing. The next step is to think of an image and stay concentrated on it for as long as possible. Once you manage to keep that image clear and your mind not drifting from it, you have achieved a form of mental control. And you can use it to quit smoking. When you start craving for a cigarette, you just need to close your eyes and focus.

Meditation does not only rescue you from the sudden cravings. It relieves the stress and, more importantly, preserves you from the feeling of losing the battle.