Congratulations on making the choice to quit smoking! You are excited, determined, proud of your decision! You know it’s going to be a struggle, but you’re committed.
First off, it’s important to tell your friends and family that you’re quitting. Quitting smoking is hard, especially if most of your friends also smoke. Hopefully, they will support you during your process. You might even find that a friend has been wanting to quit too – you can team up as support for one another!
Also, consider reaching out to your friends who live smoke-free lifestyles and ask them to spend time with you during your first few days of quitting.
Second: Think about trying new things! See this as an opportunity to learn more about what’s going on in your community and to meet new people. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Rock climbing: indoor rock climbing has become increasingly popular, with rock walls popping up in many gyms. Check out Sender One for fitness centers in Southern California.
- Join a team sport: There are a lot of fun adult sports leagues! Most teams are happy to have an extra player or two. Joining a team of people you don’t know is a great no-pressure way to meet new people. Some resources to get you started:
- Slow-pitch softball
- Zogsports: a list of sports teams (soccer, basketball, hockey, tennis, etc.) in various cities:
- Find a hiking group: From local day hikes to overnight backpacking trips, you can likely find a group that interests you in your area.
- Sign up for an art class: Local community colleges offer low-cost art classes for newbies, or you can search for both general and specialized classes at local art studios.
- One Strange Bird offers art studio class in the Chicago area
- See what you can find in your city!
Yelp.com can be a great resource to help you find local classes in literally *tons* of activities and interests. You might also consider learning how to: play a musical instrument, skate, knit, play chess, surf (or ski, depending on where you live); or even play video games.
To find other folks in your area that have similar interests as you, try: http://social.meetup.com/ It can be hard to put yourself in a new situation, but it’s worth seeing what you’re capable of – and trying new things as a non-smoker.
Go OUT, Have FUN!!!