Quit's online tools help more people to go smoke-free in 2021

Thousands of people are being supported to stop smoking with Quit’s free online Make a Plan tool, designed to help people stop smoking for good, regardless of where they are in their quitting journey.

More than 33,000 people used the Plan in 2020, which takes a step by step approach to help each individual get a full picture of what it takes to quit, including helping people identify why they smoke, how best to manage their triggers, and what is likely to be the most effective method – tailored to their goals and lifestyle – to help them stop smoking.

Quit Director Dr Sarah White says that rather than making a resolution to stop smoking on January 1, it’s more sustainable for people to make a quit attempt later in the month once they’ve had time to prepare and to get back into their usual routine.

“With holiday triggers and temptations out of the way, a fresh headspace and (hopefully) more energy, mid-January is a great time to stop smoking. Start by using the Make a Plan tool and setting a quit date to start to take back control. It gives you time to get yourself organised and setting a date will keep you motivated,” Dr White said.

“The Make a Plan tool helps you to identify your triggers to smoke and your motivations for becoming smoke-free. It also helps you to work out an approach to quitting that works for you - and which strategies to use when the cravings hit,” she said.

As well as the Make a Plan tool, Quit offers a free, online Quit Coach to keep those trying to quit on track, QuitTxt, a free, daily motivational text messaging service, and Quit Mail, a 12-week motivational email service designed to keep people trying to quit focused on staying smoke-free.

For people who want a more personalised coaching experience and prefer to speak directly to someone who understands the challenges of quitting and staying quit, there’s also the Quitline. Quitline counsellors are trained to listen and talk through ways to quit by understanding the callers’ smoking history, motivation to quit and how smoking fits into the callers’ life. They can also provide non-judgemental support when callers’ slip up and need help getting back on track.

“Research shows that the most effective way to quit smoking is a combination of coaching and support, like the Quitline, and nicotine replacement therapy products or quitting medication,” Dr White said.

“Our Quitline counsellors are trained to provide personalised guidance and advice. They work with you to develop new habits, so you can head back out into the world with confidence that you’ve nipped smoking in the bud, once and for all,” she said.

For more quitting advice, visit quit.org.au or call the Quitline on 13 7848 between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday. Quitline is a culturally inclusive telephone service for all, including the LGBTIQ+ community. Aboriginal Quitline counsellors are also available.