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Is It The Right Time To Quit?

Dr_Hurt
Mayo Clinic
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blog

Nobody wants a false start when they stop smoking.  After all, you’ll tell all your friends and family you’re quitting – and you want to follow through!  But all that pressure can make it seem hard to get started.  While there will never be a “perfect time” to stop smoking, here are some things you may want to think about as you plan your quit date:

 

      
  • Give yourself enough time to plan, but not so much that you talk yourself out of it.  Choosing a date 2-3 weeks in the future is good for most people.
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  • Wait for major stressors to pass.  Trying to stop the week before your whole family comes over to the house for your son’s high school graduation party might not be the best time!
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  • Is there a better day of the week?  Consider the pros and cons between a work day that is busy and full of distractions and a weekend day that is more relaxing.
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  • Some people like to stop smoking on a special day, such as someone’s birthday or an anniversary.  But your date will likely be one that you’ll always remember.

Get ready by talking to your support people to enlist their help.  Make some fun plans to look forward to during that first tobacco-free week, and remember to think positive.  While it can seem hard to get started, there’s never a perfect time.  Don’t let fear of failure keep you from trying!  Remember – stopping smoking is a process, not an event.  Be kind to yourself if you “slip,” and take it one step at a time to get back on track.  Every attempt you make gets you closer to being smoke-free.

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About the Author
Retired in 2014. 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 more than 50,000 patients for tobacco dependence.