The pressures of starting a business led Owaka local Tarran Kristel to start smoking.
I started my business, TK Repairs Ltd, in 2015 but the second year became stressful and I started smoking in 2017.
I had only ever smoked socially in the past but now I was smoking about 30 cigarettes a day and I really enjoyed the habit, although I always found the price tough. It cost $30 a day, which was $200 a week.
I found myself taking a lot of breaks at work and not getting as much done as I used to, and I knew that I needed to stop smoking.
A pretty big wakeup call came when a friend of mine passed away from smoking-related health issues and I became worried for my own health, as well as my finances.
Luckily, I had the best support as my partner is the Southern Stop Smoking Service coach for South Otago Anita Clouston.
I knew I couldn’t quit cold turkey – I would not have been a nice person to be around! So instead I switched to an electronic cigarette and have weaned myself down to 6mg. I found the switch really easy, it only took about a week.
The last time I had a cigarette was 24 April 2017.
I don’t miss smoking. I am finding it easier to breath, I sleep better, I’m not wheezy, I can taste again and I have more money. I’m always finding other things to spend my money on though – mainly car parts.
I get more done at work and I’m enjoying not seeing the butts lying around the floor and outside the building – I was getting sick of constantly picking them up.
I intend to continue vaping in the meantime and will keep trying to convince my friends who smoke to make the switch!
I started my business, TK Repairs Ltd, in 2015 but the second year became stressful and I started smoking in 2017.
I had only ever smoked socially in the past but now I was smoking about 30 cigarettes a day and I really enjoyed the habit, although I always found the price tough. It cost $30 a day, which was $200 a week.
I found myself taking a lot of breaks at work and not getting as much done as I used to, and I knew that I needed to stop smoking.
A pretty big wakeup call came when a friend of mine passed away from smoking-related health issues and I became worried for my own health, as well as my finances.
Luckily, I had the best support as my partner is the Southern Stop Smoking Service coach for South Otago Anita Clouston.
I knew I couldn’t quit cold turkey – I would not have been a nice person to be around! So instead I switched to an electronic cigarette and have weaned myself down to 6mg. I found the switch really easy, it only took about a week.
The last time I had a cigarette was 24 April 2017.
I don’t miss smoking. I am finding it easier to breath, I sleep better, I’m not wheezy, I can taste again and I have more money. I’m always finding other things to spend my money on though – mainly car parts.
I get more done at work and I’m enjoying not seeing the butts lying around the floor and outside the building – I was getting sick of constantly picking them up.
I intend to continue vaping in the meantime and will keep trying to convince my friends who smoke to make the switch!