"Happy New Year!" That greeting will be said countless times over the next few weeks. The celebration of the New Year is the oldest of all holidays. First observed in ancient Babylon about 4,000 years ago, the holiday evolved to become a celebration to honor Janus. Janus, a two-faced god, could look backward into the old year and forward into the new. The custom of "new year's resolutions" also began at this time. The most common resolution of the day was to return borrowed farm equipment. How times have changed!
According to the Web site myGoals.com, the leading predicted resolution for 2005 will be in some way health related. Of those, many include quitting tobacco use. In New Hampshire, more than 50 percent of smokers expect to make a serious quit attempt each year. Why do many want to quit and few actually succeed? The answer is most people don't know how to go about it. Follow these 11 simple steps outlined to boost your quit smoking success.
Believe that you can quit smoking - Studies show that one of the most important traits of a successful quitter is their belief that they have the ability to quit smoking.
Create a Quit Plan - A potential quitter is advised to create a plan that can be followed daily, so that the smoker can quit purposefully, not haphazardly. Put the plan on paper.
Take Action - You can't win the battle if you don't start the battle. The problem with too many unmet goals and plans is that no action was ever taken to start down the road to achieving the goal or plan.
Prepare Yourself Mentally - Think through how you feel when you smoke. Are you happy, sad, soothed, or more alert? The next time you smoke a cigarette, notice all these things. Jot down your observations, then re-read them regularly.
Get Help and Support from Family and Friends - Ask your family and friends to give you positive encouragement. Make sure they know that you do not want them to point out your faults, mistakes and slips. Ask them to praise your victories, large or small.
Get Help from Your Doctor - Research shows that smokers who quit with assistance and support from a physician have higher rates of success. Even patients who received only minimal instruction and encouragement from their doctor showed improved "quitting" results.
Visualize Your Way to Quit Smoking Success - Try visualizing a package of cigarettes, then make it "explode." Visualize your lungs as very clean and healthy. Visualize socializing with non-smokers. Visualize yourself effortlessly running a marathon. Visualize your friends and loved ones honoring you at a quit-smoking banquet.
Know Your Triggers - A trigger is anything that instantly creates a desire to smoke. Common triggers include people, places, events and stress.
Exercise - Research shows that smokers who take up a regular exercise program have a much higher quit-smoking success rate. For many people, exercise is drudgery. Be sure you pick an exercise that you enjoy, and consider exercising with a buddy.
Find a Quit Buddy - Chances are you know another smoker who wants to quit. Suggest to that smoker that you help each other "douse the flames" forever. Studies show that smokers who partner with a Quit Buddy are more successful when giving up cigarettes than smokers who try to quit on their own.
Don't Give Up - If you believe you will quit, you will! It may take three or four (or more) attempts. If you quit for a short time then resume smoking, you are one step closer to quitting for good. Just quit again. Keep doing it until you quit for life.
The beginning of a new year is a great time to decide or "resolve" to quit smoking. The New Hampshire Tobacco Prevention and Control Program sponsors a smokers' helpline, 1-800-Try-To-STOP (800-879-8678) for all New Hampshire residents. Trained tobacco use cessation specialists will assist by helping callers create a quit plan, provide free telephone counseling sessions and provide self-help resource materials. A call today can lead to the beginning of a healthier lifestyle.
The Dover Coalition for Youth is a community group coordinated by the police department that promotes healthy youth and families with a focus on tobacco, alcohol and other substance use and violence prevention. For information about the Dover Coalition for Youth, call the coalition at 516-3279.
The Dover Coalition for Youth wishes you and yours a very happy and smoke-free new year.
