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WHAT'S NEW
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Stay smoke-free: A quitter's guide
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Be prepared for the challenges that could hamper your chances of staying off cigarettes for good.
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By Chris Atack
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You didn't think you could do it, but you did. You've become a non-smoker. You're breathing easier, and your senses of smell and taste are undergoing a revival. Congratulations!
Information released by the Canadian Cancer Society states that if you can stay smoke-free for just six weeks, odds are the change will be permanent. Here are some more tips from the experts at the Canadian Cancer Society to help you avoid a relapse:
• Remind yourself why you quit. Write down your main reasons for giving up smoking, and carry the list with you. If you feel the urge coming on, read the list and renew your commitment.
• Avoid "triggers." Many smokers associate cigarettes with a place (for example, a bar), certain friends or an activity such as drinking coffee. You know what your triggers are. Avoid them when you can.
• Outsmart the cigarette urge. You're guaranteed to have moments of temptation. Remember, these times will pass. Sometimes visualization helps. Try thinking of the urge to smoke as a wave. Watch the wave come toward you, wash over you and fade away.
• Learn to manage stress. When tension is mounting, take a few minutes to listen to some favourite music or go for a walk. Or, do some deep breathing and stretching exercises. Experiment to see what works for you.
• Ask for help. Enlist the support of friends and family members. For professional assistance, check out smoking cessation programs. Contact the local office of the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Canadian Lung Association or Canadian Cancer Society for a list of reputable programs in your area. "Quitting is a process that requires certain skills," says Kevin McDonald, Communications Officer with the Canadian Cancer Society. "Smoking cessation programs can help people learn those skills."
• Reward yourself. Plan celebrations on the monthly anniversaries of your quit date. Calculate how much money you've saved by being a non-smoker - and use some of it to treat yourself. You've earned it.
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