The festive season is a time for celebration, gathering with loved ones and making memories that will last forever.

But it can also be a time of last-minute gift buying, crowded shopping centres, hours in the kitchen, and wrestling with wrapping paper!

It can feel like a lot of pressure to make the ‘perfect Christmas’ happen, and with the stress it brings, you might feel the urge to reach for the cigarettes.

But you don’t have to give into the cravings.

Christmas can be a great opportunity to prioritise your health and wellbeing, as well as that of your friends and family.

Here are some practical tips to help you to stay smokefree this Christmas.

1. Make sure you have plenty of NRT

If you are already on the Live Life Better Derbyshire stop smoking programme, you have plenty of time to speak to your advisor and get enough NRT sent out to see you through the season.

Our service will run as normal up to Thursday 19 December 2024, after which limited service delivery will be in place.

2. Set clear boundaries

Inform your guests that this year, the only smell filling the home will be the delicious Christmas dinner cooking merrily in the in the kitchen!

Let anyone who does smoke know that indoors will be a smokefree zone to ensure the atmosphere is comfortable for everyone.

You could even set up an area outside for those who may need to pop out for a cigarette throughout the day.

This could be somewhere with places to sit and an ashtray – this will encourage them to step outside when they need to light up, keeping the air inside fresh for children and people with respiratory conditions.

3. Identify triggers

It’s important to remember that certain situations, places or people can trigger your urge to smoke.

Maybe you used to have a festive smoke with your grandad, or enjoyed one right after Christmas dinner?

Being mindful of these things in advance can help you plan how to manage them.

There’s always room for setting new traditions – perhaps instead of sparking up, you could turn on the radio and listen to some festive tunes instead.

4. Not a single puff

Just one can’t hurt, right?

Actually, it could. The likelihood of you returning to smoking increases greatly after a temporary lapse and can lead to prolonged withdrawal symptoms.

Evidence shows that you are far more likely to stay quit if you have regular support sessions, nicotine replacement therapy and choose to stop smoking completely.

5. Practice mindfulness

If it’s all a bit much and you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a minute for yourself. Deeping breathing, meditation or a walk out in nature can do wonders to calm your mind and reduce any cravings you might have.

6. Take it easy on the fizz

Christmas is the season to have fun and indulge! But it’s worth being mindful about just how much alcohol you drink because alcohol lowers your inhibitions and can increase your urge to smoke.

If you don’t want to feel left out of the merry making, you can always try 0% alcohol alternatives which are available from most big supermarkets.

7. Use festive activities to distract from cravings

Some say that cravings only last for up to fifteen minutes, but that can often feel like the longest quarter of an hour of your life.

Cravings grow stronger the more thought you devote to them, so try to take your mind off it as much as you can.

Several minutes of deep, calming breaths can help, as well as popping out for a relaxing walk or drinking a glass of cool water.

In December, you can also stick on a cheesy Christmas film or play a boardgame with the family.

8. Stay positive

Remember your reasons for quitting and focus on all the benefits. Keeping a positive mindset can help to overcome challenges and stay committed to your smokefree journey.

Why not write down all the good things that have happened since you stopped smoking, and the reasons you wanted to give up in the first place?

9. Reward yourself

Celebrate yourself. Promise yourself that if you manage to spend the whole day smokefree, you’ll treat yourself to something special in the Boxing Day sales. A new piece of clothing, a book, a game, a spa day, even a holiday – the possibilities are endless.

10. One minute at a time

Tell yourself that you won’t smoke until you have counted to sixty. When you have reached a full minute, think of your success.

If you have resisted having a cigarette while you counted to 60, then you can do it again. Each time you do this, your feeling of achievement will increase.

Making the decision to quit for good is one of the most important choices you can make. It’s not always easy, but it is always worthwhile. Support is available in a number of places:

  • the free NHS Quit Smoking app which can be downloaded for Android and Apple phone users
  • by calling your local stop smoking service or GP
  • by talking to others who are trying to quit smoking too – our private Stop Smoking Facebook group is available to join for all members on the LLBD Stop Smoking Service, where people just like you share tips, advice and support throughout your quit journeys

It gets easier with time, and the longer you stay quit, the better you’ll feel overall in your physical and mental health. Keep focussed on your goal, and before you know it, it’ll be next Christmas!

It’s never too late to stop smoking… Live Life Better Derbyshire offers 12 weeks of free accessible support from qualified stop smoking advisors, as well as NRT, vapes and medication to suit your needs.

To find out more, fill out our online Health and Wellbeing MOT, or contact the team freephone telephone: 0800 085 22 99.