Tips to help quit smoking, and stay quit

For smokers who are thinking about quitting, here are some tips to get started on butting out for good:

• Set a target date for your quit attempt.
• Make your home smoke-free. If you go outside to smoke, it will help change routines.
• Make your vehicle smoke-free.

READ MORE: National Non-Smoking Week offers support for butting out for good

• Identify triggers that make you want to light up: Your morning coffee? After a meal? Smoke breaks? Alcohol?
• Eliminate reminders of smoking from your home like ashtrays, lighters, and matches.
• Work with someone who smokes? How will you plan your day if you usually take ‘smoke breaks’ with them?
• Consider activities to replace smoking: exercise, knitting or other “hands-on” hobbies.
• Use nicotine-replacement products such as the patch, gum or mouth spray and/or prescription medications such as Zyban and Champix to boost chances of successfully quitting.
• Reward yourself: build incentives into your quit plan; take time to recognize even small changes made.
• Keep sugarless candies on hand to combat cravings, and drink lots of water. Avoid replacing cigarettes with high-carbohydrate snacks to prevent weight gain.

Source: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health