Last Updated on July 5, 2012 by New-Startups Team
Kicking a bad habit is a personal battle that can be hard to understand unless you’re going through or have gone through it. Smoking is one of those habits. Smoking is one of those habits that call’s for you to pick up a pack that clearly states that bad things will happen if you continue using it, yet it is a process that many people still partake in everyday.
But what does it take to stop smoking? Is it simply will power? The help and support of friends? A gradual decrease in usage? Or a cold turkey approach? Maybe it’s a combination of them all? Everyone has a different need and a different way to go about changing they way they behave, but one thing is clear – one has to want to change in order for change to take place.
Goalpost makes quitting smoking a social process by connecting you with friends, expert advice and game play to figure out the support, process and method best to help users kick the habit. The online platform keeps those wanting to quit smoking on track with tips, tasks, challenges and rewards as supporters (your friends) cheer you on. While no one method to quitting the habit may work for everyone, the ability to get advice, tips and support when / if it’s needed will help people figure out what works best for them.
Throughout the Goalpost process users are given tasks and/or challenges from invited friends to accomplish. While users tackle their own activities to get over the habit, a news feed gives advice and thoughts from the experiences of others battling abolishing the same habit at the same time so users can quit smoking, what feels like, together. Once a user signs up, the site opens up with jam packed tips and information to help be aware why and what it takes to quit smoking. For example we found these useful tidbits:
“The hardest part of quitting is the first three days. After that, your body’s rid of the 4,000 chemicals in tobacco. Your first mission is to make it through one week smoke-free. Complete it and you’ll reap the rewards and level up!”
“You’re 5 times more likely to quit smoking if you have the support of your non-smoking friends. Invite them to Goalpost to help you.”
“Every day you’ll receive tips and tasks to help keep you and your friends on track. Complete the tasks, reap the rewards and race forward to the next level. Are you ready? Let the games begin!”
The site even takes into account that a user may slip up and have a cigarette during their journey. But that’s okay. Goalpost says it happens to the best of us, but it doesn’t beat one down, but rather supports and gives advice on how to get back on track to ensure success.
Mini social networks are not new, but a social network that works to conquer a habit that is so hard for many to quit earns our applause. Goalpost does a completely inventive job at providing support and game-play mechanisms to help people stick to completing tasks if they really do want to quit smoking. If you know someone who wants to quit or just want to support those that are trying to quit, Goalpost is a beta platform that is worth checking out, because you’re not alone in the battle to kick the smoking habit – actually there’s an entire social network that wants to cheer you on in accomplishing that mission.