Are you a smoker that can’t imagine not having a relaxing cig? You just don’t want to quit. You’ve seen the ads, you’ve been banished to smoke in the rain and snow in your own backyard or in the dingy smoke shelter at your workplace. Yet – you keep lighting up. You like to smoke.
This, dear smoker, is an illusion. You know it too – you are just not ready to admit it. And if you are not ready to admit it, the me is certainly not right to quit. People who take the time to assess their willingness or readiness to quit are the most successful at buttng out.
Here’s a quick primer to determine your readiness, based on the Registered Nurses’ Association’s best practice guideline.
• Pre-contemplation: You are not thinking about quittng within the next six months. Support that helps you consider your feelings about quittng smoking, and assessing the pros and cons is most helpful.
• Contemplation: You are ambivalent but thinking about quittng within the next six months. Finding ways to reinforce your reasons for change, and help you think about cuttng back often works best.
• Preparation: You are getting ready to quit in the next 30 days and have set a date. It is helpful to have a health-care provider to ask about concerns, and seek out assistance including nicotine replacement therapies.
• Action: You quit smoking within the past six months. Support that helps you to keep managing triggers, explore rewards and focus on relapse prevention strategies is useful now.
• Maintenance: You’ve been smoke-free for six months. It is time to congratulate yourself, and celebrate while at the same time reinforce the need to manage risky situations.
Remember, no one can make you quit. It’s your decision, and yours alone. More information can be found on it website: TobaccoFreeRNAO.ca.
