Tips to Quit

Congratulations! You’ve made the decision to quit a bad habit or start a new positive behaviour. Your decision will result in a happier and healthier you and you’ll also be raising funds for people who are dealing with mental illness or addiction in your community. Everybody wins!

More good news. CAMH can help you with your i quit resolution. We’ve given you some information on how to change behaviour, as well as links to other helpful online resources.

i quit is a fundraising campaign that encourages position behavior change. If you have any concerns about your i quit resolution and any possible health implications (such as beginning a new exercise regiment) please consult your doctor.

Fulfilling your i quit resolution:

1. Download our month of January calendar.

Write down your resolution and exactly what you want to achieve at the top of the page. For example ‘I want to quit drinking coffee by the end of January.’ Then, make a plan to get you to your goal gradually – you can plan by week, by day or even by hour. The key is to develop a plan that works for you – that you can realistically stick to and that will get you to your overall objective.

For example, each week, take away one cup of coffee from your daily consumption. Take it easy, behaviour doesn't change overnight. Make your plan realistic and you’ll be more likely to stick to it and achieve your objective.

2. Write down the reasons why you want to change your behaviour. For example, if drinking coffee keeps you awake at night or makes you stressed out, write down that you want to sleep better and be less stressed. That way, when you feel like breaking your resolution, you can look at your list and remind yourself why you made the resolution in the first place.

3. Take it one day at a time. If that feels like too much, take it one hour at a time. And give yourself a reward every now and then for making it through the week, the day, the hour. Plan something nice for yourself when you reach your objective. Not only are you sticking to your plan and changing your behaviour but you are raising funds for CAMH and showing all your friends that you’ve stuck to your plan.

4. Keep checking the i quit website for more tips on sticking to your resolution and for advice from your fellow quitters about how they are doing and how they are sticking to their own resolutions.

5. Remember to pat yourself on the back regularly! You’re doing something positive in your life and you’re helping others at the same time. Well done for being a quitter!