Living Smoke Free
Staying Quit
You may not feel confident in your ability to stay smoke-free for a while. Keep doing the things you did to avoid smoking when you first quit and consider building other healthy habits to support your new smoke-free life. There’s a lot you can do to help yourself—for now and for the future.
You may not feel confident in your ability to stay smoke-free for a while. Keep doing the things you did to avoid smoking when you first quit and consider building other healthy habits to support your new smoke-free life. There’s a lot you can do to help yourself—for now and for the future.
Stay Smoke-free for Good
Even after the strongest withdrawal symptoms are gone, staying smoke-free can be hard. Slipping and having a cigarette may happen, but that doesn’t mean you have to start all over again. Get tips for dealing with slips and avoiding going back to smoking. Find out how exercise and healthy eating can make quitting easier. Learn how quitting smoking can be a first step to a healthier life.
Challenges After Quitting
Many smokers struggle with withdrawal and cravings after they quit, but there are ways to deal with these temporary challenges. Learn more about cravings and slips, and get tips for coping with them. Even challenges like stress and weight gain can be managed if you are prepared and face it head on. Don't beat yourself up and take it one step at a time and you can stay on track and smoke-free for life.
How to Stay Smoke-free
Beat Cravings
It is difficult to stay smokefree when cravings hit. But the longer you go without smoking, the more these urges will fade. Fighting cravings can be easier if you have a plan. Prepare by making a list of things you can try when you have the urge to smoke. Take a walk, practice deep breathing, or do whatever works for you to get past cravings. Keep your list handy.
Celebrate You
Staying smoke-free is a big accomplishment. Treat yourself regularly. Now that you’re not buying cigarettes, you might have extra money to buy yourself something special. But your rewards don’t have to cost anything. Enjoy an outdoor hike now that you can breathe easier. Or invite a friend over for a movie night. If you have already built your quit plan, remind yourself of the rewards you chose. If you haven’t made a quit plan, it’s never too late.
Get Support
Controlling your triggers and managing cravings can be hard, even after you’ve been smoke-free for a while. Getting support from the people around you can help. Talk to the people who supported you when you first quit smoking. Friends and family members can play a big role in helping you stay smoke-free. Let them know you’re in it for the long haul and what they can do to help.
Check out other ways to get help staying smoke-free for good:
Check out other ways to get help staying smoke-free for good:
- Try a text message program. - Just text QUIT to 47848 to get started
- Download a smartphone app. - There are many free apps help you track cravings and understand your smoking patterns.
- Talk to a free expert at a quit-line. - Call the National Cancer Institute's Quit-line at 1-877-44U-QUIT (1-877-448-7848) Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. or find your state’s quit-line by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669).