And we've got some great news! BOTH managers are winners in this challenge!
The pair went head-to-head in an ILT Stop Smoking Challenge for STOPtober with support from Nga Kete’s Stop Smoking team.
Both managers have been smoke free since October 1, and both intend to keep it that way.
One of the participants, Northern Tavern Assistant Manager Sandra Waddick, of Team Sandra (she and one other staff member), has broken her 25-year smoking habit and is confident she’ll take out the win.
She’d often thought about quitting and wasn’t enjoying the habit anymore, but hadn’t taken the next step, she says. Her motivators were the expense, the wasted time, health, and being an “anti-social smoker”.
Sandra is a competitive woman so once she agreed to the challenge that was it, game on, she says.
It hasn’t been easy changing the lifestyle – 15-20 cigarettes a day at a cost of $140 a week - but after analyzing what prompted her smoking she noticed it was boredom.
“It was if I was bored or if I needed to just clear my head. It was all routine.”
Sandra says the Southern Stop Smoking Service has been helpful, non-judgmental and face-to-face which she says has been a great motivator.
The other participant, who wishes to remain anonymous, has smoked about 15 a day for 15 years and says his biggest motivator is also the challenge as well as his health.
“And I was ready. I’ve actually been ready for three or four years but I just didn’t have the motivation to do it.”
He's had no cravings, no withdrawals, and no desire to reignite the habit.
“I had a puff on Friday night and it was disgusting. So that’s it. That’s me, I’m done.”
The bar manager is enjoying better sleep and more energy.
“I don’t miss smoking at all,” he says.
Southern Stop Smoking Service coach Barbara Metzger says the challenge promotes smoke-free workplaces, and smoke-free work breaks.
The team are aiming to support more people within workplaces.
Are you an employer? Do you want to support you and your staff to become smoke free? Give our team a call 03 214 5260 or 0800 925 242.
* We provide a FREE Southern Stop Smoking Service offering community group clinics and one-one-one support with seven site coaches operating across the Southern region. We provide free nicotine replacement therapy resources including gum, patches, and lozenges, and support in how to use them, to assist you on your journey to become smoke free.