It is never too late to quit smoking, says research examining smoking cessation and age. Scientists at Peninsula Medical British School in South West England have found that the point of retirement is one of the most advantageous times to give up smoking.

 

"Retirement is one of the great transitions in life, which is why a greater proportion of people may find it easier to make significant changes elsewhere in their lives at this time,” said lead researched Dr. Iain Lang in a public statement. “Retirement is a point of life at which people have a whole range of opportunities to do things they haven't previously felt able to do”

 

Hopefully, the findings from the study will help people practice other healthy behaviors, Lang said publicly. “We are excited at the possibility that what we have seen with smoking may also apply to other aspects of lifestyle, like eating more healthily and doing more exercise,” he stated.

 

The study, which examined the smoking habits and work status of 1712 smokers aged 50 and older, found that participants who had recently retired were more likely than those who had been retired for some time, and those who were working, to quit the habit. Of participants who had recently retired, 42.5 percent had stopped smoking, compared with 29.3 percent of those still in the work force, and 30.2 percent who had been retired already.

 

“Many retirees focus on life-changing activities—quitting smoking is probably the very best life-changing activity to undertake,” says Jack E. Fincham, Ph.D., R.Ph., Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the University of Missouri, Kansas City. “Reduced stress, participation in more pleasurable activities, and being around others whom you do not want to be exposed to smoking (children, spouses, family members and other) are inducements to quit smoking.”

 

“Baby Boomers are actually at a perfect time in their lives to quit smoking and change other behaviors that no longer serve them. They have moved past the ‘honeymoon’ phase of the behavior, and are now recognizing the negative consequences,” states hypnotherapist Susan Gayle, CH, RM. Gayle is the Founder of the New Behavior Institute, a Nationally & Internationally Certified Hypnotist (NGH, ABH, IMDHA, IACT), and Certified Reiki Master Practitioner.

 

The majority of Gayle’s clients, she says, are Baby Boomers, who “are moving into a very empowering time in their lives, and this gives them great impetus to successfully change the behavior,” and quit smoking. 

 

Smokers who wish to quit must identify what they enjoy about smoking, and find other ways to reap those same rewards, says Gayle. “To successfully quit smoking, it's important for the person to recognize what they feel the benefits are, and then find another way to get those same benefits,” she explains. “For example, if smoking relaxes you, ask yourself what other things or activities relax you and substitute those for your cigarettes.”

 

Motivation is also key, Gayle tells demo dirt. Smokers must ask themselves several questions, which can focus on everything from setting a good example to looking and feeling better. “Do you want to make sure your grandchildren never smoke? Or do you want to breathe deeply and clearly?” Gayle says. “Or, [since smoking ages the skin] do you want to look younger?” After answering these questions, she advises, “Remind yourself of your motivation when the thought of a cigarette comes to mind.”

 

Just because retirement seems like an ideal time to quit smoking, Fincham warns, “Do not put off trying to quit until retirement. Retirement in and of itself can be a stressor, so plan accordingly how to anticipate and avoid stressors that may reinforce your smoking behavior.”

 

And, says Fincham, realize that quitting smoking, no matter what your age or life stage, is a challenge, but one worth facing. “Smokers in most cases have to try numerous times (many!) to quit before successfully stopping smoking,” the smoking cessation expert says. “Others may stop cold turkey (a minority)—the withdrawals effects and the ability to tolerate them or not is a major factor in quitting or failure.”

 

“Quitters also must realize that the craving for cigarettes (and thus nicotine) will always be present. I tell smokers that the longer you are successful in quitting the influence of cravings will diminish,” he adds. Fincham has worked in the past with the American Cancer Society on their annual Great American Smoke Out campaign.

 

The key is to never give up, and always have faith. “Do not be discouraged if you cannot quit smoking easily or in a few quit attempts,” Fincham advises. “This does not make you a bad person, realize that nicotine is very addictive, more so than other drugs of abuse that we associate with dependence (morphine, codeine, etc.). Keep trying—always realize it will take just one quit attempt to be successful, so please keep trying!”

 

 

Hypnotherapist Susan Gayle is the author of the self-help CDs Stop Smoking and Quit Smoking With No Weight Gain, available at www.NewBehaviorInstitute.com