Quit Smoking Timeline

You're reversing the damage that comes from carbon monoxide and over 4,000 different chemicals.
Eight hours without a smoke is an accomplishment. And it's paying off. 8 hours after quitting smoking, the carbon monoxide level in your blood decreases to normal and your blood oxygen level increases to normal. There are over 4,000 different chemicals in cigarettes that you're no longer breathing in. You can almost hear your body applauding your achievement.

Smoking takes up more time than you think. Each cigarette uses about 5 minutes. What will you do with the time you get back?
Now that you're quitting, you're saving hours as well as money. The time out of your life spent smoking might seem small but those minutes add up. The average smoker takes about 3-10 minutes per cigarette. Smoke 20 a day, and that's an hour and 40 minutes that you could have spent doing something else. That's over 11 hours a week and over 46 hours or almost 2 whole days a month and over 24 days a year. You might be surprised at how much more free time you'll have for something fun, relaxing or healthy. By the same token you'll need to find satisfying, nonsmoking ways to spend all that time, which is one reason it's so important to become more active and get yourself some new interests and hobbies.

Cravings can be tough but they last only a few minutes. Here's how you can outlast them.
When you stop smoking and your brain stops getting the nicotine it's used to, you may begin feeling strong withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms or cravings appear within a few hours and peak 2 to 3 days after quitting. It's important to know that they are a temporary discomfort that lasts only a short time. Those 5 minutes may not feel short when you experience a craving, but remember that every craving you overcome is getting you closer to your goal of quitting smoking. You know you can get through 5 minutes. It's not a lot of time when you're waiting for the movie to start or for the train to come. Some things you can do to help distract yourself until cravings pass are crossword puzzles, drinking water, going for a walk, calling a friend, brushing your teeth. Or outlast them with some of the 3-minute online games we feature in our Nicorette^® Committed Quitters^® tools and resources.