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Getting Ready

Getting Ready to Quit Smoking Print the worksheet below and use it to help prepare you to quit smoking. 1.       Write the reasons you are quitting. Review these reasons often. ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ 2.       Write down places, events, feelings, or activities that make you want a cigarette. How do you plan to handle these situations? Avoid places and activities that trigger smoking. ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ 3.       Distract yourself with activities you enjoy. Use the space below to list some of these activities. ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ 4.       List some low calorie snacks you enjoy and keep these in the house. ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ 5.       Plan on how you are going to reward yourself for quitting. For example, you will save $720 a year if you smoked one pack per day. What will you do with that? ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ 6.       When you get the urge to smoke, call someone to help talk you out of it. Use the space below to write names and phone numbers of people you can call. ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ Your body will go through many changes when you quit smoking. At first, you may have dry mouth, cough, or scratchy throat, and feel on edge. You may get cravings. Speak to your doctor about starting an exercise program to help prevent weight gain and elevate your mood. If negative mood or depression persist, talk to your doctor. He may recommend the nicotine patch, nicotine gum or Zyban, to help with these withdrawal symptoms. It is best to avoid or limit alcohol while you are quitting smoking.