Stoptober: Making a Positive Change for Nine Years

Never has there been a better time to stop smoking, and improve your health, than by taking on the Stoptober challenge.

Thousands up and down the country are giving up smoking for 28 days as they seek to kick the habit for good.

A national movement, Stoptober has been in effect since 2012 after the previous year’s statistics showed 20% of the adult population – some eight million people – were smoking.

It inspired some 350,000 people to stop smoking and its impact has continued throughout the last decade.

By 2016, levels of smokers had fallen 16.9% and by 2019 that had dropped further to 13.9% meaning there are approximately two million fewer smokers compared with 10 years ago.

But with England aiming to be smoke-free by 2030, the NHS is encouraging more people to stop for good.

How can I help myself stop smoking?

There are a number of things you can do to help kick the habit and make your Stoptober a success:

• Make a plan – Don’t just roll into the 28 days, make a plan. If you know you’ll be in social situations where smoking is perhaps more tempting, think of ways to avoid them or adjust what you’d normally do to avoid temptation.
• Consider your diet – The NHS highlights a study from the US which found certain foods make cigarettes more satisfying. On the flip side of this, other foods like cheese, fruit and vegetables make cigarettes taste terrible. Plan your meals accordingly.
• Get moving – Exercise has been proven to cut cravings and can help your brain to produce more anti-craving chemicals. Get out there and get active!

If you’d like more information on Stoptober, click here to be taken to their website.