Great American Smokeout

By Kristin Staine, Assistant Director of Student Involvement and Leadership 

On the third Thursday of November each year, smokers actively take part in The Great American Smokeout initiated by the American Cancer Society. The Great American Smokeout is utilized as a way to encourage smokers to use the date to develop a plan to quit, even for one day.  

Kicking the habit of smoking is not easy, but there are benefits of quitting that you'll notice right away! Not only would you instantly start to save money, but check out some other instant benefits: 

• Your food will taste better.  
• Your sense of smell will return to normal. 
• Your breath, hair, and clothes will all smell better. 
• Your teeth and fingernails will stop yellowing. 
• You will have more energy for activities, such as climbing stairs. 

Along with these immediate benefits, your body will continue to thank you for quitting. Here is what happens if you keep up with it!

Any smoker who quits knows it is not easy, but there are ways to cope with the fact that you are taking the step to quit. Take a deep breath, and ultimately remember why you committed to quitting in the first place. Below are some ideas that have helped other smokers kick the habit for good: 

1. Take it one day at a time. Each person quits smoking for different reasons, but always remember why you decided to quit. Taking the idea of smoking one day at a time helps keep the whole thing a bit more manageable.  
2. Picture your future as a non-smoker. Whether it is a day from now, a week from now, or a year from now, picture where you could be with not smoking. Not only is there a financial benefit, but huge health benefits as well! 
3. Take a moment, and relax. Many find comfort in various relaxation exercises when they are trying to resist the urge to smoke. The urge to smoke is only temporary, so take a breath, hold it, and then release it very slowly, and then move on. 
4. Hit the gym. Working out helps relieve tension and the urge to smoke a cigarette.  
5. Create a new circle of friends. It often helps to surround yourself with ex-smokers and non-smokers to help resist the urge to smoke. 

Join Bay State College as they help promote the Great American Smokeout on Thursday, November 16th 2017. Stop by the lobby of 31 St. James Avenue as the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership hosts an informational table with resources on how to quit, how to support others who are quitting, and more! 

The American Cancer Society can provide additional information about the steps one can take to quit smoking and provide quit-smoking programs, resources and support that can increase your changes of quitting successfully. To learn about the available tools, visit https://www.cancer.org/healthy/stay-away-from-tobacco.html.