When to try quitting again?

Have you returned to smoking or vaping and find yourself reflecting on when it would be great time to quit again? Do you find yourself often saying "now is not a good time" or "I'm really stressed out right now"? There's never a 'good' time to quit, but you can make it your time to quit.

Mark a time in your calendar to try quitting again

Keep in mind, there’s never a 'perfect' time to quit. 

Mark a time in your calendar (or set a reminder on your phone) to revisit the idea of quitting. We suggest making this reminder no more than a month or two away. 

Start planning your approach

Think about your previous quitting process and write down what worked well. Think about your triggers to smoke or vape. Write these down, and consider ways to manage them without reaching for a smoke or vape. Our Quitting Tips & Tactics Hub may help with ideas.

Talk with your doctor about quitting. Your doctor can offer you extra support and talk to you about any nicotine replacement therapy or quitting medications that may be appropriate for you. Here's a guide on what to ask your doctor.

Think about reaching out to Quitline counsellors

Quitline counsellors know how challenging it can be to quit and stay quit. They know that going back to smoking or vaping is common. They’re trained to listen and allow you to talk through what happened. A Quit counsellor can help you to plan for quitting again, when you’re ready to quit next time. 

It’s natural to feel disappointed when you go back to smoking or vaping after you've quit. Quitting is a journey. Every time you make a quit attempt it is an opportunity to learn and become better prepared for the next step. It’s like learning to drive a manual car. You’ll drive off eventually but it takes time and practice to learn how to do it smoothly and perform when the pressure is on. 

Give quitting another go soon to take advantage of what you learnt from your last quit attempt. 

Last updated February 2024