Health Department

A Five Step Plan Can Help You Quit Smoking in the New Year and Stay Smokefree for Good

December 29, 2022

If you are thinking of quitting smoking in the New Year, a personalized quit plan will greatly increase your chance of success. Stay on track, get through the hard times and quit for good with these five steps from smokefree.gov:

1. Choose your quit date.

Pick a day within the next two weeks, one that is unlikely to be stressful for other reasons. You may want your quit date to be January 1, so you can use the momentum of the New Year and the camaraderie of quitting with others around the world as motivation. This date could be problematic if you have plans that will expose you to smoking triggers, or if you need more time to prepare. 
 

2. Determine how much smoking costs you. 

Smoking cigarettes is an expensive habit. This tool from smokefree.gov will help you see just how much smoking is costing you now, and how much continuing would steal from your future. 
 

3. Reflect on your reasons for quitting. 

When difficult moments arise (and they will, as surely as they will pass) it is important for you to remember why you quit. Reasons to quit smoking may include: 
Health and quality of life
Family or friends
Finances
Environmental concerns
A baby on the way
It's too cold to smoke outside!
Countless others
 

4. Know your triggers. 

Triggers are the places and situations that make you want to smoke, even after you quit. Triggers are usually about emotions, patterns, people, and withdrawal. Each type of trigger can require a different approach for dealing with it. Your quit plan from smokefree.gov will give you personalized strategies to maintain control when facing triggers. 
 

5. Choose strategies and tools to help you quit. 

Think about who in your life can support you through this process, how you will connect with the resources available to you, and how you can distract yourself when intense cravings hit. Expert help for quitting smoking can be helpful, and comes in many forms: 

• Ohioans have their own quit line at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669) with coaching and other resources to help you stay on track. 
• Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider about whether quit-smoking medications or nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) may be right for you. 
• In addition to the personalized quit plan resource, smokefree.gov has text messaging programs and mobile apps for iOS and Android with tips and support. 
• The American Lung Association its own program to support people on their journey to quit smoking. 
   

Whatever your reason and whenever the season, quitting smoking is one of the best decisions you can make in your life.
 

Helpful Links: 

Ohio Quit Line
Ohio Department of Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Smokefree Español 
American Cancer Society
American Lung Association