We all know smoking is a bad habit, we even know how bad it is for us but we keep doing it. Most of us know of the health dangers but still mentally put our smoking habit in the same category as other bad habits like gossiping, nail biting, being a pack rat, swearing, nagging, jealousy, laziness, complaining or being a workaholic.

We know these things are not good habits to have, but most people have at least one of them and they don’t really hurt anyone else - they are behaviors that are frowned upon but are still forgivable.

Let’s get one thing straight… smoking is a dangerous bad habit that can cause many serious health problems not only to you but to all those around you. It’s more than a habit, it’s an addiction to drugs!

Wasting your hard-earned money on smoking cigarettes, cigars or even chewing tobacco also contributes to bad money management, just the same as gambling or drinking alcohol. It deprives you and your loved ones of some of the things you’d like or need because of the shortage of money.

We use excuses like “I’ll be miserable” or “I’ll replace it with food and stack on weight”. These are simply other bad habits that we feel we need to start to fill the void left by stopping smoking, but it’s just as easy to replace a bad habit with a good one. Problem is, most smokers are time wasters, they’ll often announce that they’ll give up tomorrow or at the end of the week/month and continue to ignore the good advice of family or friends to quit.

That’s enough negative comment, let’s turn to the positives of choosing to stop smoking. One thing to remember is that the operative word in that last phrase is “choosing”. Think of what your choice will mean to your pocket, instead of adding to the government purse or the tobacco company profits, you’ll have more money to spend on some nice things for yourself and your family.

Here’s a surprising fact with regards to the instant health benefits that could surprise you, it takes only 20 minutes for your blood pressure, heart rate and body temperature to return to normal!

The stale tobacco smell on your breath starts to disappear after 8 hours and the carbon monoxide levels in your bloodstream begin dropping back to normal. Your smokers cough disappears after 2 months and your energy levels start to increase, this is because your lungs and circulation are a lot cleaner and working much better.

After 12 months the odds of a heart attack will have halved and the possibility of contracting cancer will be dramatically reduced. In 10 years you’re in the same category as someone who has never smoked at all for heart attack or stroke!

You’re no longer made to go out in the freezing cold or blistering heat just to satisfy your habit. You can remain inside with your family, friends or work colleagues who don’t smoke and be admired for your decision to stop smoking.

You will also be a positive role model for your children and grandchildren. We all know that children copy what they see. Do you want your children or grandchildren copying your bad habit or emulating your new healthy smoke free lifestyle?