BLOOMINGTON – The third Thursday of November is recognized as the Great American Smokeout, during which organizations across the nation encourage the millions of American smokers to quit this toxic habit.
“Deciding to quit is the first step to your cessation journey,” said IU Health Community Health Tobacco Prevention Coordinator Kristen Terry. “Take the second step and make Thursday, Nov. 20, your quit day.”
Below are some tips Terry shared from SmokeFree.gov to help make the cessation process easier:
- Pick a quit date
- Let loved ones know you are quitting
- Remove reminders of smoking
- Identify your reasons for quitting smoking
- Identify your smoking triggers
- Develop coping strategies
- Have places you can turn to for immediate help
- Set up rewards for Quit Milestones
“Picking November 20 also gives your taste buds and sense of smell time to recover so you can
better enjoy upcoming holiday meals and seasonal treats,” said Terry. “Smoking can really impact your ability to taste and smell, and many tobacco users report improvements within the first week of quitting this unhealthy habit.”
Terry shared that many tobacco users also find the cessation process easier when they have the right support. Call 1.800.Quit.Now for help from a trained quit coach and to get started on a quit plan if you don’t already have one. You can also call this number for free to access evidence-based tobacco cessation support. Visit QuitNowIndiana.com to learn more.
For local tobacco prevention and control efforts, visit the Tobacco Free Coalition of Monroe
County on Facebook. Learn about other tobacco cessation benefits from the American Cancer Society.
