If you want a sign to finally quit smoking, this is it! But, aside from the obvious health benefits, did you know that it will also make you more productive and successful?
Taking smoking breaks in between your work is taking a toll not only on your health but also on your productivity. In addition, it decreases your attention span and your concentration, which are two of the essential elements of productivity.
In this article, we round up some of the compelling reasons surrounding this matter. This may give you an extra push to call it quits.
The Connection Between Smoking And Productivity
Recent studies have shown the stark contrast between smokers and non-smokers in terms of work productivity. Compared with non-smokers, those who smoke tend to have more sick days. Researchers have also noted that smokers are delayed in submitting their tasks.
Most companies today are now looking at the smoking (or non-smoking) habits of their prospective personnel. This is due to the fact that smokers are expected to live a few years less compared to those who don’t smoke.
In other words, there is indeed a connection between smoking and productivity issues.
Effects Of Quitting Smoking On Your Productivity And Success
Quitting smoking is a major life decision, at least for those who are long-term chain smokers. There are two things that affect your decision to prolong your smoking habit.
First, training your brain not to rely on nicotine is pretty hard. Nicotine is the single addictive drug present in tobacco products. Cigarettes are designed to rapidly deliver nicotine to your brain. This makes you feel good.
However, the downside is that you cling to it. The next time you know, you are now addicted to it. Your brain gets irritable when you stop smoking, resulting in anxiety or upset.
Second, smoking has become sort of a habit for you. This means you enjoy doing your routines with a cigarette at hand.
As an alternative to train yourself out from nicotine, you might want to shift to a natural CBD.
Don’t blame yourself if it is indeed very hard to decide to call it quits. The following by-products of quitting might finally push you to decide to finally give it a push.
A push for it means increasing your productivity and your high chance for success in everything that you do!
1. Quitting Smoking Will Improve Your Immune System
Once you quit smoking, you will do your body a favor for it to replenish. Quitting smoking is known to have a profound effect on your blood circulation.
It also contributes to an increase in oxygen levels and lowers inflammation. Needless to state, all of these are giving your immune system its much-needed boost. A stronger immune system means being so prolific and efficient at work.
If you got sick easily before, it would now be easier to fight off colds and other illnesses. But, of course, this means the least absences at work!
2. Quitting Smoking Results In More Energy
Yes, you read it right! One of the wonders of finally making that decision is that it tends to provide you with more energy. More of it translates to more job done, thus making you productive as ever.
Here’s a fun fact: 72 hours (or 3 days) after your last cigarette stick, nicotine is already depleted in your body. As a result, your breathing becomes easier. Energy will increase. Both are possible because of the return of normal blood flow.
3. Quitting Smoking Improves Your Blood Circulation
It is observed that within two to twelve weeks after quitting, your blood circulation will improve. What will be its effect on your productivity?
Simple: an improved blood circulation translates to the fact that physical activities are a lot easier. If you are doing construction work or out there in the field, this will be very helpful.
Remember that nicotine causes your blood vessels to be narrow. This limits the amount of blood that flows to your organs. Over time, narrow blood vessels decrease the amount of oxygen and nutrients your cells receive.
4. Quitting Smoking Will Improve Your Eyesight
If you are working in a company where a keen eye for detail is of primary importance, consider quitting smoking now. While smoking is mostly associated with a sharp increase in cardiovascular diseases, it is also linked to causing blindness and loss of vision.
Smoking increases the risk of macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. Having these illnesses can create a serious impediment to your work.
Aside from health, the products that you will be working on will not be as effective. Hence, this will affect your credibility and that of your product.
5. Quitting Smoking Means Pumping Up Your Metabolism
Smoking has the power to reduce your body’s overall ability to absorb vitamins and minerals. Among those that are blocked by your body because of nicotine are calcium, vitamin D and vitamin C.
As you know, all of these vitamins and minerals are important in maintaining healthy blood vessels, muscles and the body’s natural healing process.
Absent all of these, don’t expect that you are in your prime to deliver a task. Quitting smoking now will reverse your situation!
6. Quitting Smoking Means Stronger Muscles And Bones
When you quit smoking, you can expect an increase in the availability of oxygen in your blood. As a result, your muscles will become stronger and healthier.
This benefit also extends to your precious bones. As quitting means stronger bones, you can effectively reduce your risk of fractures.
Stronger muscles and bones will be especially helpful if you are working in an industry that requires strength. Having them will surely make you productive and successful in your tasks. With nicotine around, that would be very impossible to achieve.
7. Quitting Smoking Means An Improvement In Your Mental Health
This is not much talked about, but yes, mental health takes its toll if you are a chain smoker. It is believed that six months after quitting, you will feel less stressed, anxious and depressed.
Stress, anxiety, and depression are three of the biggest enemies of productivity. So if you are aiming to improve and increase your productivity, getting yourself away from that cigarette stick might do the trick!
8. Quitting Smoking Means Being Free From Addiction
Let’s be straightforward about this: smoking is a fatal addiction. When you are addicted to doing something like smoking, it will have consequences.
For instance, it will affect your ability to think, thereby not making your prime for your work. It also distracts you from more meaningful engagement, thus making you out of focus.
All of these, among others, create a severe impact on your productivity. When you quit now, expect that many nicotine receptors in your brain will return to normal. This will finally break this cycle of addiction.
Quitting Smoking Will Not Only Benefit You But The Whole Workplace
Premises being considered, it is not only you who will come out as a winner when you quit smoking. Your whole workplace also gets a share of the prize.
Why? There are plenty of reasons, but these carry more weight:
- The reduction of second-hand smoke, which is equally fatal, decreases. When workplaces go smoke-free, productivity among employers is expected to be high. It is believed that breathing second-hand smoke gets in the way of normal function of the heart, blood and vascular systems.
This is a perfect recipe for having a heart attack. Brief exposure to secondhand smoke can damage your blood vessels’ lining. As a result, your blood platelets tend to be stickier.
- The budget for property insurance decreases for workplaces that decided to become smoke-free. While this is not in any way correlated to health impacts, expensive property insurance is one of the ill effects of smoking in the workplace.
In addition, the budget intended for them may be used by the company for other meaningful things like human resource training and the like.
Are You Ready To Be Productive And Successful At Work By Quitting Smoking?
One of the best gifts you can give yourself, your family and your workplace is the decision to finally quit smoking. While it is indeed hard to do, just imagine the infinite wonders and possibilities it could bring not only to your personal life but also to your career.
Here’s a caveat, though: the first few days and months of quitting smoking will not be easy. Nicotine withdrawal tends to result in fatigue, headaches, dizziness, constipation, and nicotine cravings. Mentally, it can be hard too. You will feel anxious, irritable, and depressed.
But remember that this will be just temporary in nature. These are just little prices you pay for punishing your body for so long because of smoking.
By overcoming these side effects and by finally quitting smoking, you will have a new leash on life and your career. Here’s to a productive and successful you!
