We all have different reasons for quitting smoking or vaping. Discover your reason.
Why quitQuitting is a journey and, with the right plan and support, you can achieve your goal.
How to quitQuitting can take practice. Keep up your quitting journey to break free from smoking or vaping for good.
Staying quitTalking to someone about quitting can be challenging, but with the right information you can help them take positive action for their wellbeing.
Helping othersSpeak directly with a trained quit counsellor. Our team are available to provide confidential and free support, a quit plan tailored just for you, and answer all your questions.
Call 13 7848Access our comprehensive suite of tools and tactics designed to help you quit smoking successfully. From quit plans to cost calculators, find the support you need on your journey to becoming smoke-free.
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Last updated May 2024
Read time 4 minutes
It can be helpful to remember that these feelings (though intense) won’t last forever and you have the strength to fight them.
Exercise – whether it’s a light walk or a more demanding gym session – can be a useful strategy to have in your toolkit to help you quit.
Manages stress - exercise promotes the release of endorphins, hormones that make you feel good, and may help ease feelings of stress or anxiety. Plus, being outdoors in a green space, like a park, may also help reduce stress.
Good distraction – using the time that you may have spent smoking or vaping to instead be active can help focus your mind and distract you from thoughts of cigarettes or vapes.
Reduces cravings – studies have shown that a brief bout of exercise can reduce the urge to smoke.
Think about what you enjoy – a social exercise like dancing, sport or a walking group can be a good way to stick with it. If you choose to do a little everyday, what is easy to do and can easily fit into your life? Can you pair it with something you already do in your routine, like running on the spot for 30 seconds after you brush your teeth?
Of course, you won’t be able to leap up every time you have a craving. Remember, the more ways you have to respond to cravings, the more likely you are to quit.
Check out LiveLighter for exercise tips, information and free workout guides and plans to suit every body.
Davina smoked 10-20 cigarettes a day over 16 years.
She used exercise as a way to combat cravings and manage the symptoms of quitting, changing her habits by going to the gym first thing in the morning instead of lighting up.
She also focused her mind on study as a distraction and enrolled in a personal training course.
"When the cravings come along – it helps to focus on something else."
Quitline counsellors are here to support you throughout your quit journey. They can help you think of ways to manage cravings that you may not have thought of.
You also find lots of helpful tips and tactics on our Tactics Hub
Speak directly with a trained quit specialist. Our counsellors are available to provide immediate support, personalised quit plans, and answer all your questions.
Get in contact with Quit
Adding exercise to your daily routine can help you combat cravings.
