Ready to quit? Let’s prepare for those first few days
Set your quit date? Well done! Remember, you’re supported every step of the way by your Pharmacist. Here are ways to plan so you can have the greatest chance of quitting for good.
1. Get ready
Throw away any cigarettes, vapes, ashtrays, lighters and other items you still have. It can also help to list your motivations for quitting and prepare activities to distract you when cravings hit, such as videos, books, magazines, TV series and podcasts.
2. Distract your hands and mouth
Prepare some healthy snacks to distract your mouth, such as vegetable sticks, dips, dried fruit, nuts, sugar-free lollipops and gum. For your hands, stress balls, pens and paper, fidget toys, puzzles, toothpicks, coins, chunky rings, knitting or crochet can help.
3. Remember, cravings don’t last
Think of cravings like a five-minute window to fill with other activities. These activities can be doing some stretches, singing a song, going for a quick walk, watching a video, listening to a podcast or drinking some water.
4. Know what to expect
While most nicotine leaves the bloodstream within a day, nicotine withdrawal symptoms may last two to four weeks. Expecting this means you can plan strategies for that time. Talk to your Pharmacist if you are experiencing strong, challenging symptoms and need extra support.
5. Plan for tricky moments
Being with friends, having a drink or going out may pose a challenge to your quit plan. Have strategies in place, such as limiting alcohol, having a quick, polite response prepared for if someone offers you a cigarette or vape, taking gum to chew and calling (rather than seeing) friends who aren’t interested in quitting.
1. Get ready
Throw away any cigarettes, vapes, ashtrays, lighters and other items you still have. It can also help to list your motivations for quitting and prepare activities to distract you when cravings hit, such as videos, books, magazines, TV series and podcasts.
2. Distract your hands and mouth
Prepare some healthy snacks to distract your mouth, such as vegetable sticks, dips, dried fruit, nuts, sugar-free lollipops and gum. For your hands, stress balls, pens and paper, fidget toys, puzzles, toothpicks, coins, chunky rings, knitting or crochet can help.
3. Remember, cravings don’t last
Think of cravings like a five-minute window to fill with other activities. These activities can be doing some stretches, singing a song, going for a quick walk, watching a video, listening to a podcast or drinking some water.
4. Know what to expect
While most nicotine leaves the bloodstream within a day, nicotine withdrawal symptoms may last two to four weeks. Expecting this means you can plan strategies for that time. Talk to your Pharmacist if you are experiencing strong, challenging symptoms and need extra support.
5. Plan for tricky moments
Being with friends, having a drink or going out may pose a challenge to your quit plan. Have strategies in place, such as limiting alcohol, having a quick, polite response prepared for if someone offers you a cigarette or vape, taking gum to chew and calling (rather than seeing) friends who aren’t interested in quitting.
Find more on quitting smoking HERE.
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