The best way to be organised in life is to make a list. Make a list of what you need in preparation to quit. You'll be ready for cravings, triggers and stress.
If you’ve decided to quit or have set a quit date, there’s lots you can do to prepare.
Checklist for getting ready to quit:
Try our Quit Plan.
Make your house and car smokefree.
Experiment by not smoking at times when you normally would, e.g. the pub, smoking breaks at work, or with your morning coffee.
Try a new time-out routine.
Try a smokefree day (some people end up just quitting at the end of a smokefree day).
Separate smoking from pleasant activities like sipping warm drinks, sitting down, TV or socialising.
Decide to refuse all offers of cigarettes from others.
Consider picking up a new hobby or revive an old one. Exercise is a great way to fight a craving.
Talk to your partner, or friends and family. How would you like to be supported? Are you an "ask-me-how-I’m-going" type person or the "don’t-mention-it" type?
If you live with a smoker, chat to them about keeping the house smokefree, or at least keeping their smoking to one place.
Do a quit shop: think healthy snacks – carrots, celery sticks, seeds, nuts. But a new drink bottle.
See your GP – if you take medication, this may need to be adjusted before you quit. Your GP may also be able to help you with quitting products.
Consider nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products such as mouth spray, gum or lozenges, or stop smoking tablets. These are effective, especially when used with Quitline.
Call Quitline or set up a Quitline call.
Last updated November 2021.
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