A smoking habit can become quit and encumbrance for someone who wants to travel the world. Not only are you restricted by no-smoking zones, but you’re also spending thousands each year on the habit, slowly destroying your physical and mental health, and generally limiting the experiences that you can have during your travels.
A long flight going through nicotine withdrawal is a quick way to ruin the vacation. You’ll be stressed during the flight and once you land, you can’t exactly light up in the terminal. Is the habit really worth so much extra stress, cost, and general discomfort? Let’s take a look at what it might look like to travel for the first time after you become smoke-free.
Fewer Expenses
Many smokers are ditching the habit or using alternative products like snus for the sake of cost. Did you know that as a smoker, you’re spending anywhere from $3,000-$5,000 per year on cigarettes alone? That’s just the upfront cost of purchasing your cigarettes. This doesn’t factor in damage to your vehicle and home or the medical costs you will undoubtedly incur at some point in your smoking career.
Smoking can actually devalue your home by nearly a third, according to multiple sources, and this means you’re potentially losing thousands of dollars you could’ve spent on traveling the world or investing. Your car’s value also plunges significantly when you smoke in it, but your body suffers the most. Damage to the most important organs in your body can only result in one outcome: expensive treatment options.
These treatment options aren’t always effective, either, which means you could end up spending thousands on something that didn’t even work. Is that a gamble you’re willing to take? Are you willing to gamble your life for a habit that does nothing but destroy?
More Opportunities
Most public places have disallowed smoking due to the fact that second-hand smoke is a public health hazard. Second-hand smoke has been linked to various cancers, lung disease, and other life-threatening conditions. When you smoke in public, you’re exposing everyone around you to the dangers of the cigarette, including over 7,000 chemicals, heavy metals, and other toxins that find their way (unfiltered) into someone else’s lungs.
That being said, you’ll find your travels less enjoyable when you encounter smoke-free zones. Maybe you really want to visit a beach or a particular nature reserve, but you can’t smoke; are you able to go hours without a cigarette without becoming stressed and anxious? Likely not. Nicotine withdrawal can make for an uncomfortable, if not irritating experience.
If you’re traveling with other people, your habit can quickly become a hindrance to travel plans. If everyone has to accommodate a smoker Nikotiinipussit, no one will be having any fun, as certain areas will be inaccessible.
Less Stress and Anxiety
The point of traveling is to relax, enjoy the scenery, and expose yourself to new cultures and traditions, right? How you can possibly relax and enjoy your travels if you’re constantly anxious and stressed because you need a cigarette?
Leaving behind cigarettes can feel like an entirely new experience when you’re traveling. You’ll notice a more relaxing atmosphere, your mind won’t be racing, and you won’t have to suffer from the classic nicotine withdrawal headaches that can leave your head throbbing in pain. That sounds like a much more relaxing travel experience, doesn’t it?
Let’s not forget that you won’t have to spend a portion of your trip seeking out more cigarettes and spending money on them, thus increasing the overall cost of your travels.
Healthier Mind and Body
With a healthier mind and body, you can properly enjoy the sights and maybe visit locations you otherwise wouldn’t have been able to. Maybe you’ve always wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail, or wander through the Rocky Mountains; you can’t exactly climb a mountain with a cigarette in your mouth! Your lungs might explode before you reach the top! (Not really, but you get the point)
The bottom line is that a healthier mind and body make for a better travel experience. You can’t properly enjoy the sights and lessons of travel without a clear mind, a healthy body, and a positive attitude. Don’t ruin the trip for everyone else, either. Smoking affects the health of those around you, so it’s best to give it up altogether and not put anyone’s health at risk.
Quit Today
Don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s ever too late to quit. It’s never too late to quit smoking, and with so many resources available today, the journey is more supported than ever. Start your cessation journey on the right foot by downloading a cessation app, joining a support group, or simply putting down the cigarette once and for all!
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