Quitting smoking, more frequent trips to the gym and eating better are all popular New Year’s resolutions. For smokers, quitting can be one of the hardest challenges to overcome, but the benefits can’t be disputed. Butting out means more money in your pocket, more free time in your day, and most importantly, improved health.
Prolonged smoking commonly leads to serious lung conditions. Even the simplest of tasks, like shovelling snow or walking up a flight of stairs, can become incredibly challenging.
Remember, it’s never too late to quit. There are things you can do to make quitting easier, including:
• Pick a day to drop the habit. Mark your calendar and on your “quit day,” butt out completely. Enlist your friends and family to support your decision and help hold you accountable.
• If you slip up, try again. Often people relapse when attempting to quit smoking. That’s normal. The will to quit may help you overcome social situations where you’re tempted to pick up a cigarette. Persistence pays off.
• Speak with your doctor. Your family doctor will be able to guide you down the right path to smoking cessation. Medication, support programs, and pure willpower can all help you become smoke-free.
Quitting smoking is not easy and you will need the support of your family and friends to see it through. Don’t give up, even if you start smoking again or if the first few weeks of withdrawal are unbearable. In the end, you give yourself the best gift; the gift of health.
