Pack it in

What

No more butts, just stop smoking.

Smoking is the greatest single cause of illness and premature death in the UK. You've probably thought about quitting, and maybe you've even tried once or twice (good on you!). It's a challenge that's really worth sticking with – you'll be wealthier and healthier, and whilst it won't save the planet single handed, it'll help to save a little patch of rainforest and hold back a little pollution.

Why

Cigarettes make us sick. Not surprising when each one contains more than 4,000 different chemicals, many of which are harmful to the body. Sadly smoking causes 100,000 people in the UK to die each year.1

But the good news is that your body starts to bounce back the moment you quit. If you stop smoking before about 35, your life expectancy is only slightly less than people who have never smoked. And the younger you quit the better, so what are you waiting for?

How

Research shows that stopping smoking for 28 days means you are five times more likely to stay smoke-free. So if you can manage for our two month pledge period you're really on to a winner!

NHS's Smokefree website offers lots of helpful advice on how to quit, and they even have a 'Quit Kit' full of practical tools and advice.

Quitting may be challenging, but there are lots of things you can do to make it easier:

  • Avoid the triggers – throw out your ashtrays, lighters and cigarettes. If you usually smoke with your mates at the pub, give it a miss until the cravings die down.
  • Start a new hobby which keeps your hands and mind occupied.
  • Get active – it reduces the cravings.
  • Reward yourself with something fun and sustainable with the money you save.
  • Nicotine replacement therapy can be helpful in controlling cigarette cravings, but the jury's out on whether it's more effective in the long run than just going cold-turkey.

Don't give up! Everybody falls down: the winners are the ones who pick themselves up and keep going.