Everyone’s quit journey is different. This is Whitney’s story about how she quit smoking after a decade of cigarette use.

“I remember feeling frazzled, not just from the lack of nicotine, but that my routine was messed up. I usually woke up, had a smoke, then brushed my teeth and got ready. It felt like going against all muscle memory to not walk outside first thing. My hands felt fidgety when I didn’t have the smoke break and something to do with my hands.

I also smoked after I ate dinner, so it was a huge adjustment to move away from something that felt like second nature.

The hardest thing in the beginning was finding a new routine. I “funnily” quit two weeks before the whole world shut down at the start of the COVID pandemic, so my routine was thrown completely out of whack from unexpectedly going to fully remote work, quitting smoking and figuring out a new normal.

Because of the shutdown, I didn’t have much social support. I was often isolated all day because my husband was an essential worker who was still going into the office.

Boredom was a huge trigger. If I had 10 spare minutes between online meetings during the lockdown it was hard to not take that time to smoke.

Stress was another factor. If I had to deal with a tough project or video call, it was incredibly hard not to smoke.

What got me through it was teaching myself how to cross stitch. It kept my hands busy and took enough concentration away from being bored that the time passed quickly.

If I felt a craving coming, I would pick up whatever project I was working on and do it until it passed. I kept unfinished stitches all over the house for the first few months!

Knowing that I wanted to do this and start a family helped me push through. I didn’t want to find out I was pregnant and then try to quit smoking.

I wanted to be in better health before we started a family, and I knew quitting sooner rather than later was going to give me the best leg up. Any time I wanted to smoke, I thought about my future family.

Money was also a huge factor. I saved up the money I would have been spending on cigarettes and put a down payment (and then some) on a brand-new custom SUV.

The first time I ever said to someone, “No, I don’t smoke” instead of “I used to smoke,” was an unexpected moment that made me so proud. It somehow solidified that I wasn’t going back to smoking again.

The first time I was offered a cigarette after quitting and I turned it down felt really good. It showed me that I could overcome peer pressure and not immediately give into a craving.

If I had to describe that time in my life with one word, it would be “tough.”

I won’t mince words. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done and likely will stay that way. There were tears, many thoughts of “can I really do this?” or “I definitely can’t do this” but I persevered.

Looking back, I wish I had used the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline for extra support. They have patches and gum to help with cravings, and their Coaches can help develop strategies to get through stressors and triggers like I experienced.

Quitting after smoking for over a decade, when it was a part of all my daily habits and lifestyle was in no way, shape or form easy. I had tried quitting so many times before, but this time stuck because I was ACTUALLY ready to quit and move on.

Quitting is a tough journey, but remember to lean on others. Use the resources available to you. Talk about it. Pursue hobbies. Try something new and you’ll be okay.”