Quitting tobacco in 2022? Your future self will thank you.

Create a new you in the New Year with FREE support from the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline.

If you could ask your future self just one question, what would it be? Who’s the next Super Bowl champ? When will you meet your perfect match? Who’s the next shocking winner of your favorite reality show? Here’s one question that beats them all: How did you build a tobacco-free life?

Armed with mysterious knowledge of your destiny, future you would definitely share these tips for success on your tobacco-free journey:

1. Don’t beat yourself up.

Quitting is a journey. Slips happen sometimes, but they shouldn’t derail you. If you do have a slip, consider the situation. Were you hungry, angry, stressed or tired? Learn from the experience without criticizing yourself.

2. Remember that time is on your side.

You don’t need a time machine to outlast a craving. Nicotine cravings only last three to five minutes. When one hits, distract yourself. Call a friend, play games on your phone or try your hand at an adult coloring page.

3. Zap triggers before they zap you.

Tidy up your house and car. Remove cigarettes, ashtrays, smoke odors and other reminders of smoking. Laser canons won’t be invented for 10 years. So for now, you can toss it all in the trash.

4. Activate your muscles.

You don’t have futuristic superpowers yet. But you can still use physical activity to your advantage. Activity is a great way to reduce stress, curb cravings and minimize the effects of nicotine withdrawal. Shoot for at least 30 minutes a day.

5. Get FREE support from the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline.

At the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline, you can get support from a nonjudgmental Quit Coach. Plus, you can take your pick of FREE patches, gum or lozenges. People who use the Helpline are up to three times more likely to quit than those who quit on their own.

Okay, you can’t talk to your future self — at least not yet. So what CAN you do? Call the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline.

Thinking about quitting tobacco in 2022? The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669) or visit OKhelpline.com to learn more. With FREE help and nonjudgmental support, you’ll be on the road to a brighter future. And somewhere down the road, your future self will definitely thank you!

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The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline is a free service for Oklahomans who want to quit tobacco. Funding is primarily provided by the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET), in partnership with the Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline has served more than 360,000 Oklahomans since 2003 and has been ranked among the top quitlines for reaching tobacco users seeking treatment for the last ten years by the North American Quitline Consortium.

The Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) serves as a partner and bridge builder for organizations shaping a healthier future for all Oklahomans. TSET provides leadership at the intersections of health by working with local coalitions and initiatives across the state, cultivating innovative and life-changing research, and working across public and private sectors to develop, support, implement and evaluate creative strategies to take advantage of emerging opportunities to improve the public’s health. TSET – Better Lives Through Better Health. To learn more go to: www.ok.gov/tset.