THINKING ABOUT KNOCKING the cigarettes on the head for good?

It can be a daunting prospect, as quitting smoking is no ordinary challenge. However, it’s one that you can win, and one you can be extremely proud of when you do.

Over the next three weeks, we’ll be giving you the support and tools you need to start your own quitting journey. This week, we’re focusing on where it all starts, by helping to inspire smokers with some motivation to give up.

The hard facts

Every smoker embarking on their journey to quitting will have a different motivating factor that starts them off. That said, there are some common denominators that act as motivating factors for many. For example:

• More money in your pocket both short-term and in the future
• Lower risk of tobacco-related illness and disease
• Better-smelling home, car, clothes and hair

No matter your own personal reason to make the decision to quit, you’ll enjoy many added benefits when you finally take the plunge.

Logging progress

Quit It Lite Quit It Lite

One key thing to keep you going strong while you quit is making sure you track your progress. This will keep your motivation at tip-top levels throughout, as you really see the effect of what you’re doing on your life.

• My Last Cigarette (iOS and Android) is the original smoking cessation app, giving you the hard facts and a visual distraction when cravings strike.
• Quit It Lite (iOS and Android) takes a slightly different approach to classic apps, by focusing more on the positives adding up and journal-keeping.
• Nicorette Stop Smoking App (iOS and Android) contains a variety of support tools including advice, suggestions and quit smoking tips that help you tackle every aspect of your journey.

You can do it

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Keep positive. You might find that slip-ups cause you to lose your motivation and fall back into old habits. Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t make it the first time around – quitting smoking is about each minute, hour and day. It’s an ongoing process.

Join us

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Consider our three-part series as a sort of support group for trying to quit. With that in mind, let us know in the comments section any experiences, anecdotes or advice you have around the subject of quitting – then, we’ll round them up to help other readers thinking of quitting in the coming weeks. Next time, we’ll be focusing on the personal benefits of quitting. See you then.

So, we’re asking you -what benefits did you see when you gave up smoking? Or what do you imagine the benefits of quitting to be? Let us know in the comments section.

Quitting smoking is sometimes a struggle, and Nicorette can offer a helping hand. Start your incredible journey today. Find out more about quitting tools and products, such as Invisimatch and QuickMist, at Nicorette.ie.