Smoking remains one of the most self-destructive habits anyone can engage in. Unfortunately, smoking is not only a habit it's an addiction and one that's hard to break free from. Considering what a smoker has to gain from quitting, the quit smoking benefits, can help strengthen their commitment to stop.
The first benefit that comes to mind is always the health benefits. These certainly are important and one of the major reasons to stop smoking. In fact, smoking is a major public health issue. It's hard to think of anything that would have a more beneficial influence on the top two causes of death, namely heart disease and cancer, then everyone in society suddenly stopping smoking.
That's not going to happen soon, but you can make your personal decision to stop smoking right now.
Even though health issues are the most important reasons to quit, I'm not going to dwell on them here because you are probably well aware of what they are. Instead, I want to mention a few of the benefits that people don't talk about as much. One may seem trivial yet may motivate more people than considerations of their health. The other, in some ways, may be more important than the physical benefits.
The possibly trivial reason to quit smoking is aesthetics. In some ways it may seem silly, but some people are more concerned about their looks than they are about their health.
The tobacco industry, and to some extent Hollywood, has done a good job of portraying smoking as somehow elegant, sophisticated and attractive. Many smokers get started when they're young because they want to be part of the crowd that's smoking or they want to be associated with the media image of a smoker. they get hooked before the reality becomes clear
The reality is that smoking is a dirty habit that isn't at all attractive in the short run and over time ruins a person's good looks.
Smokers have to deal with cigarette ash and spent butts. Their homes and cars reek of stale tobacco smoke. Having fiied ashtrays around your home is like having little piles of soot and dirt all over.
It doesn't take long for the smoke to stain a smokers teeth and fingers. Not only that, the smell and dirt cling to their clothes and the walls of their home. All in all, it's an ugly situation.
Beyond that, smoking has obvious detrimental effect on a person's skin. This is both because smoking destroys the elasticity in the skin and the detrimental effect of the toxins in smoke. A chronic smoker has a characteristic complexion that is anything but attractive.
Smoke long enough, and you'll develop a "smoker's cough." Of course hacking up phlegm throughout the day is very attractive and sexy.
Beyond aesthetics, and more significant quit smoking benefit is psychological. It's interesting that in promoting their deadly product the tobacco industry has used images like the Marlboro Man to try to associate smoking with freedom and independence.
The sad fact is that few people are less free than a smoker. They're chained to their habit.
Smokers have to plan on always having the next cigarettes available. If they should happen to run out, they'll go to great lengths to get another pack. Look like any other addict desperate to get a fix, only this drug is legal.
As more and more public places have limited smoking indoors, it's become common to see smokers huddled outside in all kinds of miserable weather - rain, sleet, snow or whatever - dragging on their cigarettes.
It's pretty demeaning. And it's not the fault of the people who don't want to be poisoned by secondhand smoke or the hotels who don't want their furnishings dirtied by smoke. The problem is the addiction that drives people to that behavior.
Any smoker who takes a step back to consider the situation has to want better for themselves. No one likes to be that out of control. It's difficult to have much respect for yourself when you're a slave to a dirty, destructive habit.
Freeing oneself from that is a major a accomplishment and one that definitely increases a person's freedom and sense of self-worth. These are major long-term benefits that are well worth the short-term struggle.
The first benefit that comes to mind is always the health benefits. These certainly are important and one of the major reasons to stop smoking. In fact, smoking is a major public health issue. It's hard to think of anything that would have a more beneficial influence on the top two causes of death, namely heart disease and cancer, then everyone in society suddenly stopping smoking.
That's not going to happen soon, but you can make your personal decision to stop smoking right now.
Even though health issues are the most important reasons to quit, I'm not going to dwell on them here because you are probably well aware of what they are. Instead, I want to mention a few of the benefits that people don't talk about as much. One may seem trivial yet may motivate more people than considerations of their health. The other, in some ways, may be more important than the physical benefits.
The possibly trivial reason to quit smoking is aesthetics. In some ways it may seem silly, but some people are more concerned about their looks than they are about their health.
The tobacco industry, and to some extent Hollywood, has done a good job of portraying smoking as somehow elegant, sophisticated and attractive. Many smokers get started when they're young because they want to be part of the crowd that's smoking or they want to be associated with the media image of a smoker. they get hooked before the reality becomes clear
The reality is that smoking is a dirty habit that isn't at all attractive in the short run and over time ruins a person's good looks.
Smokers have to deal with cigarette ash and spent butts. Their homes and cars reek of stale tobacco smoke. Having fiied ashtrays around your home is like having little piles of soot and dirt all over.
It doesn't take long for the smoke to stain a smokers teeth and fingers. Not only that, the smell and dirt cling to their clothes and the walls of their home. All in all, it's an ugly situation.
Beyond that, smoking has obvious detrimental effect on a person's skin. This is both because smoking destroys the elasticity in the skin and the detrimental effect of the toxins in smoke. A chronic smoker has a characteristic complexion that is anything but attractive.
Smoke long enough, and you'll develop a "smoker's cough." Of course hacking up phlegm throughout the day is very attractive and sexy.
Beyond aesthetics, and more significant quit smoking benefit is psychological. It's interesting that in promoting their deadly product the tobacco industry has used images like the Marlboro Man to try to associate smoking with freedom and independence.
The sad fact is that few people are less free than a smoker. They're chained to their habit.
Smokers have to plan on always having the next cigarettes available. If they should happen to run out, they'll go to great lengths to get another pack. Look like any other addict desperate to get a fix, only this drug is legal.
As more and more public places have limited smoking indoors, it's become common to see smokers huddled outside in all kinds of miserable weather - rain, sleet, snow or whatever - dragging on their cigarettes.
It's pretty demeaning. And it's not the fault of the people who don't want to be poisoned by secondhand smoke or the hotels who don't want their furnishings dirtied by smoke. The problem is the addiction that drives people to that behavior.
Any smoker who takes a step back to consider the situation has to want better for themselves. No one likes to be that out of control. It's difficult to have much respect for yourself when you're a slave to a dirty, destructive habit.
Freeing oneself from that is a major a accomplishment and one that definitely increases a person's freedom and sense of self-worth. These are major long-term benefits that are well worth the short-term struggle.
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