It is one year since your last cigarette. Wow! Congratulations. You've done more good for your health and wellness by stopping smoking than any other one thing you could have done. Below are a few things that you can do now to continue on the path to remain tobacco-free. Use the questions below to review where you are and write out a brief plan for you to continue into a healthier and happier second year of not smoking.
First of all, review how things have changed since you stopped smoking.
- Is it easier not to smoke now than it was when you first stopped?
- What is it that you like about being smoke-free?
- How much money have you saved?
- Who in your life is happy that you no longer smoke?
- What health improvements have accrued since you stopped smoking?
- What other important changes have occurred as a result of having stopped smoking?
Renew your commitment to stay smoke-free.
- Why is it important for you to continue not to smoke?
- How confident are you that you will continue not to smoke?
- What precautions do you need to continue to take to be smoke-free?
- How do you deal with the thought "maybe I can have just one"?
Make a plan to continue to be happier and grow healthier.
- How does smoking fit into your plans for the coming year?
- In addition to not smoking, what other things do you want to do to care for your health?
- Are there activities that you enjoy which you can do more of or better now that you do not smoke?
- How can you continue to appreciate all the work you have done in stopping smoking?
You've done a wonderful thing for yourself by stopping smoking. The skills you've developed in your efforts to stop, and the benefits you've gained by stopping, can help you live better and be healthier in many ways. Appreciate what you have done for yourself and use these skills for better living. Be sure to also check out the EX Community page to share and learn other tips from our EX members. Congratulations again and keep up the good work!
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
