Health Advocate Blog

What smoke-free activities will you enjoy when you quit?

As part of Health Advocate’s Commit to Quit Tobacco campaign, many of our members are aiming to quit tobacco on November 20th, the national Great American Smokeout Day.

Quitting tobacco is difficult, and staying motivated is key to your success. One way to stay focused on your ultimate goal of becoming tobacco-free is by thinking of all the places you can go and things you can do when you’re not tied to tobacco. For example, many restaurants are entirely smoke-free, and places like concert venues, sports stadiums, and amusement parks may only have a tiny smoking section set apart from the main attraction. Imagine how much more comfortable and fun your outings will be if you don’t have to step away from the action to duck outside for a cigarette!

We asked some of our members who are participating in the Commit to Quit Tobacco campaign what tobacco-free activities they plan to enjoy once they’ve quit tobacco. Here are a few of our favorite responses:

“Christmas shopping!” — Joanna

“Going out to lunch or dinner and not stepping away to have a cigarette outside.” — Jori

“Going to my son’s soccer games! This time I won’t miss seeing him score a goal because I went outside to smoke.” — Brenda

“Taking my kids to a movie. It’ll be nice to not start craving a cigarette halfway through!” — Jeff

“My best friend and I are training for our first 5K run. The more I cut back on cigarettes, the easier it is to breathe when I run.” — Angela

“Parties with friends where I do not miss some of the conversation and fun by going outside to smoke.” — Julie

Are you quitting tobacco, too? Tweet us @HealthAdvocate and tell us why you’re looking forward to being tobacco-free! Plus, click here to check out a ton of great resources that can help you in your tobacco-free journey.

For Health Advocate members with access to our Wellness Program:

It’s not too late to join our Commit to Quit Tobacco campaign for 2014! Simply log in to your Health Advocate Wellness website and opt-in to the Commit to Quit Tobacco campaign (depending on your particular program/website, you can register either by clicking the Commit to Quit Tobacco banner on the top of the page, or by clicking “My Account”). During the campaign, you will receive valuable quit-tobacco tips via email and/or text messaging that can help you get prepared to quit on November 20.

Additionally, if you have access to a Health Advocate Wellness Coach through our wellness program, you can connect with a coach who can help motivate and guide you through quitting tobacco. Call us today to get started!