Tiscali Community Notes And Queries Section

No Smoking Day 2009
No smoking day is happening on the 11th March 2009 and last year, over 1.2 million people took up the great No Smoking Day challenge.
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1.2 million people took up the Great No Smoking Day Challenge and stubbed out their cigarettes on No Smoking Day 2008. In fact, every year over a million people make a quit attempt, and over 20 per cent still aren't smoking one month later, making No Smoking Day the UK's leading public health campaign. In 2009 No Smoking Day is keen to impress that quitting is a step by step process which takes commitment and planning. As the impact of the credit crunch starts to bite, many families are feeling the pinch. And for smokers, many of whom spend over £2000 a year on cigarettes, it's particularly tough. It's no surprise then, that surveys show most would like to quit and No Smoking Day is here to make sure they stand the best possible chance of success.

This year's theme has been developed with smokers themselves, with lots of involvement from our local organisers. It's a striking image that tells its own story, but the strapline - take the first step - is also an invitation to use No Smoking Day to make a lifelong change. It's a reminder that quitting requires commitment and planning, and we're working more closely than ever with stop smoking services and others that support smokers who want to stop. No Smoking Day is here to help those smokers that want to quit; research shows as many as three in every four smokers want to quit, and even more wish they'd never started to begin with.

No Smoking Day is an opportunity for smokers to be made aware of expert help and support needed to succeed.

Here are some tips to going smokefree:

1.Set a date - No Smoking Day on Wednesday 11 March 2009 is a good time as you'll be stopping with more than a million other people. Use the days between now and then to plan. Pledge your quit attempt and get lots of useful quitting tips and ideas on how to spend the money you save!

2.Get free local help - find your local free stop smoking service by calling a helpline. Using their help and a proven treatment can make it four times more likely that you'll succeed in stopping smoking

3.Deal with nicotine withdrawal - your pharmacist or GP can talk to you about the proven treatments that can double your chances of success

4.Tell your friends and family - get their help and support too and even get them to sponsor your quit attempt!

5.Make a list of the reasons why you want to stop smoking - whether it's to be fitter, for your children or to save money; carry the list with you to remind yourself during difficult moments

6.Know what to expect - most people will find it difficult to stop smoking but it does start to get better after just a few days and just have a look at the benefits you'll gain from quitting

7.Keep a diary - write down when and where you smoke, and how you feel each time

8.Avoid temptation - use the clues from your diary to spot the smoky situations in your day and make a plan to help you avoid them

9.Reward yourself - plan some treats with the money you will save

10.Don't even have one cigarette - it's the first step back to 20-a-day

What are your tips for quitting cigarettes? Have you quit? Are you finding it difficult to quit? Share your experience and help other Tiscali members.