Happy New Years!

[Dr_Hurt]

Many people use New Year's Day as the day to stop smoking. While quitting smoking is always a good idea, there are some pros and cons to using New Year's Day as your quit date. Some cons people have discovered include, not being serious about quitting for more than 24 hours of the New Year. They find that these resolutions often go the way of weight loss resolutions, they don't seem to last very long because people go back to their normal routines once the holidays are over or they become depressed with the gray weather of mid-winter. However, some pros people have discovered include, having a clear and easy stop date to measure themselves against. They'll never forget the day they quit smoking because it was the first day of the New Year. Also, the New Year provides an opportunity for renewal and starting over that is welcomed by nearly everyone. It brings with it a positive kind of energy that can help move a person through the tough days that come shortly after stopping smoking. So no matter when you choose to stop smoking, whether it be as a New Year's resolution or some other day, always remember you are doing something for yourself that will pay large dividends no matter when you choose to begin. Have a good 2009 and if you are one of those who set that as your day to stop smoking take it one day at a time. If you haven't already picked a quit date go to BecomeAnEX.org and start re-learning your life without cigarettes.

Dr. Richard D. Hurt is an internationally recognized expert on tobacco dependence. A native of Murray, Kentucky, he joined Mayo Clinic in 1976 and is now a Professor of Medicine at its College of Medicine. In 1988, he founded the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center and since then its staff has treated over 33,000 patients for tobacco dependence. Send your questions directly to Dr. Hurt at AskTheExpert@becomeanex.org