It’s always hard to give up a habit, be it good or bad. Smoking is no different. There are millions of people who sign up for de-addiction programs but fail to become successful non-smokers. Imagine the day when you wake up to realize that you no longer need a cigarette to be happy. The joy on your family’s faces when you announce it to them that you have decided to quit this bad habit is worth all the effort that would go into the actual process of smoking cessation. A lot of smokers say that the physical damage that smoking has done to them was what inspired them to give up smoking. The benefits of deciding to not smoke are far more than the few ill-effects that you may have to deal with such as weight gain, mood swings and slight tremors. Things only get better when you decide to become a non-smoker; whether you are looking at the mental, physical or financial aspect of it, you are better off kicking the habit now.

Physical Advantages

Good: The fine lines around your lips will be a thing of the past when you decide to quit smoking. These wrinkles add years to your face and make you look haggard.

Better: Non smokers have stronger immune systems. Even during the flu season, a non-smoker is more likely to be unaffected by the virus. And even if he is, he will recover faster than a smoker.

Best: Physically, a non-smoker is fitter than a smoker. He does not tire as easily and hence it’s less taxing for him to jog, walk or do other physical activities. His stamina is better than that of a smoker’s. When a smoker becomes a non-smoker, he will see marked changes in how his lungs function.

Mental Benefits

Good: The real mental issues are glossed over due to the euphoria that a smoker feels when he smokes. Once he quits smoking, the underlying problem can be identified and then treated accordingly.

Better: Non-smokers react better to social situations. Their discretion and thought process are not clouded. They are generally better developed socially, and hence behave as they ought to.

Best: Smokers have a high probability of becoming afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia later on in their lives. Cognitive problems are common among chain smokers.

Financial Positives

Good: $2,000 is how much you would be spending on even low-grade cigarettes annually if you smoke a pack a day. This figure does not include the expenses incurred due to associated health conditions and days off work due to chronic illnesses.

Better: A non-smoker pays lower insurance premiums than a smoker.

Best: The economy has to bear about $97 billion of loss due to healthcare and productivity issues of smokers.

What you first need to realize is that there are no benefits to smoking. With smoking being banned in public places, it will only become more difficult to find a place that encourages you to light a cigarette. A non-smoker has a superior social life than a smoker does; he spends more time with his colleagues and becomes more amiable. Probably, a lot of the smokers took their first puff during their teens to conform to the social pressure back then. It does not make any sense in the current scenario to continue this bad habit.