Ryan Crawford, Senior Supervisor, Service Delivery:

A romantic evening of hushed conversation over a candlelit dinner and red wine? An electric night of dancing in the city and stealing a kiss on the street? A lazy afternoon on the couch together watching a movie and laughing about how, before the kids were born, you used to go out for candlelit dinners and dancing in the city?

We have all sorts of ideas about what the perfect date might be. Whether it’s exciting and adventurous like rock climbing or as stirring and intellectual as walking hand-in-hand through an art gallery, one thing is certain: dates are important. Dates are the way we demonstrate our everyday ideas and feelings with our significant others, but in out-of-the-ordinary circumstances. They add freshness, new perspectives, comfort, and (dare I say?) spice to our relationships.

So why am I writing about dates on a website about healthy behavior change and quitting tobacco?

For starters, it’s almost Valentine’s Day, and you know it. Either you’re planning for the date you’ve got lined up, or you’re single, and like me, you’ll eat those chocolates anyway.

But more importantly, there’s another kind of date that can be very important when it comes to tobacco: your date with quitting!

Preparing for a quit is hard. Tobacco turns into an addiction far too easily, and ending an addiction is difficult. What if, instead of thinking of a quit date as an ending, we thought of it as a blossoming beginning? This can be a budding new romance with your tobacco-free self!

Here is some dating advice that can be helpful to bring to that first rendezvous with your quit:

1.) Blind Dates = Risky. Sometimes the mystery pays off, but more often than not you question why you agreed to a blind date in the first place. Set your quit and establish the day you want to “meet up.” Like with any date, make sure it’s a day and time that works for both of you (in this case, you and your quit).

2.) Woo Your Date. You don’t want to show up empty handed on the front porch! But instead of bringing flowers to the door or holding up a boombox outside your girlfriend’s window à la “Say Anything”, come prepared with tools for quitting. Use some form of medication like patches, nicotine gum, Chantix, etc. Bring straws, toothpicks, cinnamon gum, or anything else to replace your cigarettes or chew tobacco.

3.) Double-Date. Get support. This could even mean getting a quit buddy to go through the process with you! Just make sure you and your quit buddy are on the same page about how you want to quit.

4.) Leave That Ex Behind. It’s time to break up with tobacco. Heal your heart and your body by getting rid of any leftover cigarettes, ashtrays, lighters, smokeless tobacco, spittoons, or anything else that might remind you about that lowlife. (You can do better!)

5.) Put Your Best Foot Forward. When you’re on a date with someone, you show them the best you have to offer. But this quit date is about you. How can you bring the royal treatment to yourself? Reward your success with a warm bubble bath and a great novel, or with a relaxing massage. Splurge on yourself with a shopping spree or with a romantic getaway using the money you save from not buying tobacco!

6.) Make It Fun! Quitting can be rough. There’s no way around it. But quitting, like a great date, is better when you plan for fun things to do! Distract yourself by playing soccer, scrapbooking, fishing, or even dancing with your Wii!

Quitting is for lovers and single people alike. Whatever your quit date entails, make sure it is the right date for you.

Kiss and tell! Contact a Quit Coach with the Quit For Life program and dish the details about your quit date!