Quitting smoking is one of the hardest addictions to break, but it’s not impossible . A new year brings a sense of renewal and that’s why so many smokers make the resolution to quit. For some it’s a second, third or even tenth chance at kicking the habit. That sense of failure, or even fear of failure, can be debilitating. Why try when I might fail? The important thing to remember is that we all have missteps along the way. It’s a sign of us moving forward and moving towards a goal.

So this year, why not quit for good? Take some time and plan it out. Pick a quit date. It could be January 1, your birthday, an anniversary, or another date important to you. Once you’ve set a date start thinking about how you’re going to quit. Are you going to quit ‘cold turkey’ or go with the patch? Maybe you’ll choose a combination of things. Whatever route you choose make sure you’re going at your own pace. Most of us need to ease into a new behavior. That can take weeks to get used to and months to become a part of the new you.

There are free resources available to increase your chances of successfully quitting. A call to the Arizona Smokers’ Helpline will get you set up with trained quit coaches who can help you make a plan to quit tobacco and stick to it. Many of the coaches are former smokers so they know how to support your quit plan. In addition the ASHLine can provide you with four weeks free of nicotine replacement therapy such as patches or gum which, when used with a quit coach, can double your chances of quitting. Once you’re ready to quit, call 800-55-66-222 or visit ASHLine.org. Make 2017 the year you finally quit for good!

We will highlight several other health tips you can incorporate into your New Year’s resolution list in the coming weeks. Check back here on the blog and visit us on social media to learn more. I hope you join me in finding your best health in 2017!