For 26-year-old Jason, smoking wasn’t about addiction, it was about fitting in.
Originally from Singapore, Jason moved to Australia as a teenager and later returned to complete two years of mandatory military service. It was during this time, surrounded by fellow recruits who smoked, that he started smoking. Smoking became a social activity, a way to bond with others and take a break.
However, once he completed his service and returned to Australia, everything changed. Without the same social influences, he realised smoking no longer had a place in his life.
“Smoking was never really part of me – it was just something I did because of the people around me.”
Before military service, I had experimented with smoking as a teenager, just out of curiosity. My grandfather smoked and I tried it when I was around 14 or 15. It didn’t really interest me back then.
But being in the military was different. Smoking became a daily routine, a shared activity with others who were also going through the same intense experience as I was.
I completed my service, returned to Australia and that’s when everything changed.
My friends and family here didn’t smoke, so I didn’t feel the need to continue.
Unlike other people who I knew were struggling with quitting, my transition away from smoking was relatively straightforward.
I just didn’t buy cigarettes anymore.
Without people around me smoking, it felt unnecessary to keep doing it.
Although I occasionally felt the urge to smoke, particularly when colleagues at work invited me for a cigarette break, I reminded myself why I had stopped.
I told myself I wasn’t a smoker in Australia. That mindset made it easier to say no.
“One of the key motivators for me was my family.”
My parents always told me smoking was bad news. While I didn’t take it seriously during my military service, once I came back, I started listening to them more.
I also realised the financial burden of smoking was serious. Cigarettes are expensive in both Singapore and Australia. There’s no such thing as a free cigarette – it all adds up.
To manage my cravings, I turned to nature. I loved the outdoors, so I would go for a walk instead.
Breathing in the fresh air of the beautiful Australian nature helped clear my mind and made me feel better.
I also noticed physical improvements in my body and overall health. My breathing became smoother meaning that I felt a lot less congested. Plus, my mind felt clearer. It was brilliant!
My advice for others looking to quit is simple. Surround yourself with people who don’t smoke.
If the only thing you do with certain friends is smoke, maybe take a break from them while you’re quitting.
I also suggest keeping yourself busy, especially while you’re quitting. Fill your life with other lovely things so you don’t even think about smoking.
Today, I don’t think about smoking at all. It was never really part of who I was. It was just something I did because of the people around me. Once that changed, I realised I didn’t need it.
For me, quitting wasn’t just about stopping a behaviour- it was about embracing a lifestyle where smoking simply didn’t fit.
