Almost every nurse has met that one stubborn patient, family member, or friend who would have great health, except that they’re among the 1.1 billion people in the world who smoke cigarettes. And, according to some studies in just the US alone, nurses can be the among most tobacco-vulnerable of all health professionals.
It’s one of the toughest habits to quit, but once you’ve quit, it’s worth the struggle. After being smoke-free for over 300 days myself, I’m enjoying the freedom that my tobaccoless life has to offer. I’ve never looked back for longer than a few seconds, and each time I think back to when I smoked, I either shudder or feel a refreshing wave of gratitude for having quit.
These resources below helped me, and they helped some of my treasured friends and family members who have also experienced a smoking habit.
#1: Allen Carr’s Easy Way To Quit Smoking
This classic book has helped millions of people kick their nicotine addiction to the curb. The book can be purchased on Amazon and at most any bookstore, and it’s also available as a PDF download.
The book itself is inexpensive, and the community that has gathered around the book has generated a wellspring of resources, motivation, and peer-to-peer support.
#2: Livestrong: MyQuit Coach
For the data-driven quitter, this app provides visualizations, graphs, and statistics that can help keep track of progress.
The app tracks money saved, consecutive days quit, and allows users to check in with a few simple buttons. If a craving happens, acknowledging the craving by clicking a button in the app can help quell the feeling.
http://www.livestrong.com/quit-smoking-app/
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/livestrong-myquit-coach-dare/id383122255?mt=8
#3: Whyquit.com
If anyone ever needed just one more reason to quit smoking, this site has thousands of reasons. Though this site has an old-fashioned design, it’s a classic source of information, hearkening back to when the internet was first being used to expose the health disasters that could be caused by smoking. Right off the bat, on the first page, there’s over a hundred articles listed that could motivate even a long-time smoker to think twice.
There you have it – the books, website, and app above were the key forces that assisted me in quitting. It’s getting easier to quit smoking as well, since more and more research emerges each year about the dangers of smoking.
Lately, lawmakers in the US have demanded that most public spaces become a healthier, more smoke-free terrain. Smoking in public and indoors no longer happens, and nationwide stores like CVS have pulled their tobacco products from the shelves. Even though restaurants and stores like CVS could profit almost endlessly from the sale and support of tobacco, it’s been removed from the roster.
Thanks again for reading. If you have a favorite book, website, or video that’s helped you or a loved one quit smoking, feel free to share it in the comments. Every little bit helps.
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