National No Smoking Day

Today marks National No Smoking Day, and we’re excited to reconnect with one of our very well-known colleagues from our Peterborough Contact Centre—Jess Bell! Jess has been a prominent figure in our social media and blog posts, and today she shares her journey with smoking. Having smoked for nearly 17 years, Jess talks to us about her reasons for smoking, her journey to quitting, and the positive changes she’s experienced since then.

How many years did you smoke for and was there a reason why?

“I smoked for nearly 17 years, pausing only during pregnancy. After having my first child, I picked up smoking again when we relocated to Germany, where cigarettes were inexpensively available at the base exchange using my military ration card. I managed to kick the habit once more when I had my second daughter but the traumatic experience of my children’s father being caught up in the London terror attacks proved too much of a trigger, and I’ve been smoking consistently ever since then.”

“I was drawn to smoking because of its sensations — the deep inhales, the escape from life’s stresses, talking to new people on a night out, huddled under the brolly in the rain. I loved it all.”

What made you want to quit smoking?

“It may sound trivial, but here’s the story. Typically, I’m not one for holding hands, but on this evening I had the urge to do so. I had the tough choice of hold hands, smoke a cigarette, or clutch my purse. I found myself holding my clutch in one hand and a cigarette in the other. I haven’t yet had the chance to rectify that moment, but at least now I know that if I ever face a similar situation, I have options.”

“I also knew the harmful effects on health smoking has, and another reason I decided to quit was because I was not ready for my life to be cut short. Years ago, I heard a theory that quitting smoking before the age of 27 could reverse some of the damage. Of course this was only a theory, and with scientific evolution this may no longer be the case however it stuck in my head and whilst I was in my 27th year at the time, I was hopeful there was some truth to it.”

When did you quit and how did you quit?

“My last cigarette was on August 30th, 2023. I had this thought that I wanted to quit around my birthday but I didn’t plan for that specific day to be the last. I used to smoke around 35-40 roll-ups a day, excluding times like going for coffee or socialising. So, I decided to try vaping instead. I didn’t plan on sticking with it either, but I wanted to be free from both smoking and the addiction. I was pretty vocal about not liking vapes, but I ended up giving in. I bought a vape with a 6mg nicotine liquid and split the quitting process into stages—6 months until my birthday. That’s 2 months of 6mg, 2 months of 3mg, and 2 months of 0mg. Eventually, I became vape-free too! It wasn’t easy because vaping is quite different from smoking, but I wanted to start with lower nicotine levels to ease the withdrawal. I used the NHS quit smoking app to track my progress, celebrating every smoke-free day with a gold star until not smoking just became my new normal. Now, I check my progress whenever I remember, and I’m proud to say I’m 190 days smoke-free!”

After you quit, did you notice any health benefits?

“At one point, exercise for me meant holding a TV remote in one hand and a glass of wine in the other. But on August 31st, I decided quitting smoking wasn’t enough. I downloaded the Couch to 5k app and started running that same day. By October, I was sticking to it, going out every other day following the app. I realised I needed more, so I ventured into fitness classes, despite feeling embarrassed about my fitness level. One Friday night, I found myself at a trampoline cardio class, and it was eye-opening! From there, I gradually increased my classes from one to two to four and five a week. Not only did this improve my health and lead to weight loss, but it also cost me less than what I used to spend on smoking. I can’t say for sure how my health has changed since quitting smoking, but I can tell you that I no longer have stained teeth or nails, I don’t wheeze anymore, and I can run up a flight of stairs without feeling winded.”

Has there been any positive effects on those around you from you quitting?

“Definitely. I’ve learned that smoking can make you more frustrated or stressed, and that negativity can affect those around you. That supposed “feel-good” sensation from smoking is just a trick—it doesn’t actually make things better. When you quit, your mind feels clearer, and stress feels more manageable without relying on cigarettes. Smoking also takes you away from your loved ones frequently, as you need to step out for a smoke, and it exposes them to the harmful effects of second-hand smoke. Quitting has definitely had a positive impact on those around me. Most importantly, I’m no longer paying to increase my risk of cancer, which means more time with my children.”

What advice would you give to someone who also wants to quit?

“Consider what compromises you’re willing to accept. I realised that sacrificing the freedom to live life on my terms wasn’t something I wanted anymore. For instance, I haven’t taken a plane trip in years, let alone a long-haul flight. It’s sad to think that I denied myself these experiences simply because I was worried about not being able to smoke for a few hours. This is just one of many examples where I put smoking ahead of making lasting memories. But life has a funny way of making us see things differently. It can be something as simple as holding someone’s hand to realise that I didn’t want to make that compromise again. So, here I am at 28, realising it’s never too late to begin a new journey and rediscover a newfound appreciation for life.”