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Did you know that Stoptober has helped over 2.5 million people across England make an attempt at quitting smoking since it first launched back in 2012? Research carried out by Public Health England shows there are currently 5.3 million adult smokers across the UK, and smoking is the single biggest behavioural cause of preventable illness.
For many, the thought of quitting smoking may be daunting, but once you break the habit good things really do start to happen. Studies carried out by NHS England show a common belief around smoking is that it helps you relax, so quitting may increase your stress levels. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Not only does starting a smoke-free life improve your physical health, but it also positively impacts your mental health.
Research recently conducted by Min Gao at Oxford University to see if quitting smoking leads to positive mental health benefits found that “Quitting smoking will not worsen, and may improve mental health outcomes.”
To quit smoking whilst still feeling good, we’d recommend replacing smoking with healthier habits that are sustainable long-term including:
Public Health England carried out a study on the most helpful distractions from smoking and found that keeping hands busy, changing your routine, and going for walks were the top three beneficial factors.
Committing to the quit
One of our specialist Stop Smoking Coaches at Stop for Life explains “Although a large reason as to why people smoke is because they are addicted to the nicotine in a cigarette, another reason is down to habit. Habits are behaviours or actions that individuals engage in on a regular basis.
When someone smokes, they experience positive effects, for instance, relaxation and stress relief, which reinforces this behaviour. Then, when they try to quit smoking, they may experience negative effects, including withdrawal symptoms, which punish the behaviour and make it more difficult to quit.”
So, this is why quitting in a way that works best for you is key to being successful on your journey to a smoke-free life. An effective place to start is with the Best-You Self-Assessment Tool – this enables you to view how dependent you currently are on nicotine, and provides an estimate of how much money you are currently spending per week on smoking.
Once you’ve completed the Self-Assessment Tool, you can then use the Smoking Journey Planner to prepare yourself for your quit journey in a way that best suits you. We’d also recommend joining the Smoking Deck Group to view top tips from our expert Health Coaches and to share any milestones you’re achieving whilst quitting.
This #Stoptober and beyond, let’s prioritise quitting smoking whilst still feeling good. We know we’re stronger together - join the thousands of people who are committing to the quit and watch good things happen.
Make the commitment to quit smoking today. Embrace the journey of smoke-free living with our Healthy Lifestyles community. You don’t have to face this journey alone. Together, let’s conquer the challenges, thrive, and inspire positive change.
Start to take control of tobacco today. For free help and support contact us now on 0800 122 3790. Let Stoptober be the start of your smoke-free, healthier, and happier life.
