I just quit smoking, and I work in a smoking environment. To former smokers: can I get used to it?

Question

I'm the bar manager at a busy Irish pub. I quit ten days ago and now that I have my sense of smell back and I can't stand to be behind the bar when eveyone is lighting up. A few cigarettes is no problem, but when 15-20 people at the bar are smoking I feel nauseous. Will I get over it?

Answer 1

This is probably not the answer that you want to hear, however, my dear sister did not "completely" stop smoking until she changed her workplace to a smoke free environment. You can switch to a new job, but you can't switch to a new body. Best of luck to you...

Answer 2

I'm not a smoker (nor have I ever been), but this is what an ex-smoker told me. As a smoker you are not generally bothered by the smell or smoking around you, but once you stop smoking and get your sense of smell back, you start noticing how it smells (something non-smokers know very well). if your decision to quite smoking is sincere and you are strong enough to carry out your decision and commit, it won't bother you eventually (in the sense of wanting to smoke again).

But the smell will bother you at some point as your lungs clears up (this could take years!).

and try not becoming a negative-smoker! if you could avoide the atmosphere, please do. nothing worse than getting sick because of something you are not doing!

Answer 3

I am a happy ex-smoker of two years. (I'm happy to say that it has almost been two years since I've touched meat, too, but that's pretty much a different story.) I can't stand so much of a WHIFF of smoke now. My husband's sister (and I think her live-in, too) smokes. My husband's brother's wife smokes, from what I understand more than two or three packs a day. She REEKS of smoke and I can barely stand to be by her. (The same with my husband's sister and boyfriend.) On Christma evening, my BIL, his wife and her kids were at my in-laws' (as was my husband and me). I walked into the living room, took one breath and had to leave. They have no qualms about smoking in the house with their kids around. (My husband's sister wonders why her sons have health problems; The youngest, who is ten, is about as tall as a six-y-o. My BIL has bone cancer and his wife actually smokes in the house by him. How clueless are they?)

Anyway, it didn't take long for me to be repulsed by the smell of second hand smoke. Im proud of that. A couple of months ago, my husband went to see his brother. I refused to go into the house, knowing it would reek. When his wife came home and saw me in my car, I just told her that I needed some alone time. True, but what I was really thinking was that I value my health and my breating and don't feel like contaminating myself by going into your house. Last week when my husband and I had lunch with his mom, his brother and sister, we had a story ready if my husband went to his brother's house after and I didn't go. The real reason was that we didn't want to poison our baby with the contaminated air in the house (I'm pregnant with our first child), but the story would have been that I was tired and wanted to go home and take a nap and spend some time with my MIL and SIL. We didn't need the story.

Anyway, quit your job. Your health is way more important. If your current boss asks why, tell him/her. The same with your next employer.

I hope my rambling has been of some help.

Answer 4

Almost 6 years since I quit smoking.Even as a smoker I disliked secondhand smoke.Very soon after quitting and to this day I can barely breathe around secondhand smoke.I cannot handle it for a single minute.P.S. Never put a single cigarette in your mouth ever again.It IS that easy to quit.First 2 weeks are the toughest.Gum and Gummi Savers got me through the toughest times.Don't worry about weight gain,it will level off in due time.

Answer 5

Actually, you should quit the job, not just smoking! Passive smoking is equally dangerous. If you cannot enforce the no smoking in the bar rule (which I think will be difficult for you), I suggest switch to some other job.

Answer 6

Thankfully, no, you won't. (Ex-smoker, 20 years past)

Answer 7

prohibit smoking at your bar ... remember "health is wealth" !