It’s not cool to smoke anymore.
Of course, it was never exactly cool to begin with, but advertising made it look that way. In the 21st century, though, we’ve learned so much more about the negative effects of smoking that we know exactly how bad it is. The good news is that cessation methods are everywhere, including medications, counseling, and nicotine replacements such as gums and vapes. There are so many tools to help you quit.
Quitting smoking is not easy. It’s no secret that nicotine is highly addictive, and the body’s response to quitting an addictive substance is more than unpleasant. But with the right determination and individual techniques, you can be successful in quitting.
The benefits of being a non-smoker are almost too numerous to list, but let’s have a look at five of the most noticeable ways your life will improve when you quit smoking.
You’ll Save Money
As cigarette smoking has become more discouraged, the price of cigarettes has risen dramatically. Depending on where you live in the United States, a pack-a-day habit can cost between $2,011 and $4,507 per year. That’s enough to take a vacation once a year, make improvements to your home, or help pay for a new vehicle. When you start thinking about what you can do with all that extra money, smoking seems like a total waste.
You’ll Feel Better
Quitting smoking has several health benefits. Your blood flow and lung capacity improve, your sense of smell returns (which makes your food taste better — bonus!), your energy increases, and your sleep patterns improve. All that, and you won’t feel as winded when you exercise.
Also, if you find you get sick often as a smoker, you won’t have that problem as a non-smoker. Your immune system will stop working overtime to expel the extra toxic chemicals found in cigarettes, and start working to keep you healthy.
You’ll Smell Better
Smokers don’t really notice it, but the smell of smoke sticks. It gets into your hair, your clothes, and even your skin — especially your fingers. The smell of smoke can be very off-putting to your professional colleagues and to dating prospects. When you become a non-smoker, you’ll be able to smell a smoker from a mile away, and you’ll thank the stars that you don’t smell like that anymore!
You’ll Be More Attractive
When you stop smoking, not only does your smell improve, but your overall attractiveness will, too. Smoking ages your skin, so quitting will give your skin a chance to heal and look young, healthy, and glowing again. Your hair will become shiny and bouncy. Your teeth and nails will be whiter and cleaner. And don’t forget about stinky smokers’ breath, which won’t be a problem anymore once you quit.
Because quitting improves your blood flow, it can also improve your sex life. Especially when you consider that non-smokers are three times more attractive to potential mates than smokers.
Your Brain Works Better
In a recent study, scientists found that quitting smoking can improve memory and cognition. The outer layer of the brain is called the cortex. The cortex is responsible for processing information and keeping a strong memory. As you age naturally, the cortex becomes thinner, but smoking can cause the cortex to thin more quickly than normal. This leads to weakened memory and information processing. When you quit smoking, this process is reversed. You may never restore your cortex to the level of a non-smoker, but you’ll prevent doing any further damage to your brain. As a result, you’ll experience better memory function, improved cognitive function, and increased motivation.
The evidence for the benefits of quitting is boundless. Try any of the methods for smoking cessation until you find the one that sticks. Reach out to former smokers and those trying to quit for support. Try Nicotine Replacement Therapy to help you get through the cravings. Quitting smoking is worth the difficulty if you stick to it and overcome the addiction. You can do it!