To Plan or Not To Plan?
Monday, February 12th, 2007
If you are planning to stop smoking, this article may give you something to think about.
According to The British Medical Journal, University College London researchers performed a survey in which it was found that two-thirds of smokers who stopped suddenly succeeded for at least six months, compared to under half of those who planned it in detail. The study suggested that planners possibly felt less strongly about giving up.
The theory is based upon the idea that, prior to giving up, smokers have varying degrees of motivational tension, which results in the decision to quit.
Motivation is likely to be high in those who take immediate action, but less so in those who opt to quit some time in the future.
In the study, 65% of the unplanned quit attempts had succeeded for at least six months. This compared with 45% of those who planned to quit in advance.
It has traditionally been thought that the best way to quit is for smokers to go through several stages - thinking about stopping, planning the attempt and making the attempt.
Researchers say this is not to imply that planning to quit is counterproductive.
Lead researcher Robert West said: “The results do not mean that we should tell everyone to stop without planning ahead, but they do tell us something about the state of mind of the smoker who wants to quit.”Â
“Dissatisfaction with being a smoker creates a kind of tension. Then, when that tension is high, even quite a small trigger makes the smoker decide that the time has come to stop. “Â
“If that decision is to quit some time in the future, rather than right away, then in some smokers it could indicate a weaker commitment.”Â
Jean King, director of tobacco control for Cancer Research UK, said: “This is an interesting survey showing that there are different strokes for different folks.”Â
“The new findings suggest that some people can stop on the spur of the moment and that is very good news for them.”Â
“Others benefit from planning a quit date.”Â
“In both cases people can always get additional support from Stop Smoking clinics which have helped thousands of people give up by providing nicotine replacement therapy, support counselling and a timetabled plan for smokers if that is what they need.”
So, if you want to stop smoking and you don’t have a plan, don’t be afraid to just jump right in if the spirit moves you. You may be more successful than some others! From everything I had read on the subject, I felt that I was not being serious about it if I didn’t have a plan. So, I made one! It’s been a tough two weeks for me and I don’t know if it would have been any better to have quit when I first decided to do it. I probably would have been over most of the withdrawal symptoms by now though! 
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One Comment
subscribe comments feedTracy
February 12th, 2007
I can see it going both ways. It’s definitely important to make a plan for anything you do, but on the other hand, planning can also be a form of procrastination: “Oh, I can’t quit yet, it’s not time according to my plan!” or “I can still eat this entire pizza; my diet doesn’t start till next week.” Continuing to smoke (or do anything else you’re trying to stop) while planning a date to stop is almost counterproductive, since you’re just delaying the time when you’ll start to learn to break the habit.
To speak to my own situation, people definitely wouldn’t get much closer to running a marathon by just making a plan! That’s why I’m glad there are so many pre-made marathon running plans out there–it would have taken me forever to come up with one on my own.
Still, planning can give you time to come to terms with giving up an old habit or starting a new one. I say, do whatever works for you–and if one thing doesn’t work for you, try the other!