The old joke goes "quitting smoking is easy. I've done it a hundred times." Cravings, social pressures and habit make quitting a seriously challenging endeavor. Added stresses, responsibilities at work or just plain temptation can in a split second trash your best efforts to quit. If you're seriously committed to quitting this time, you'll want to give yourself some motivation and a little pressure to help you succeed. You'll also want to surround yourself with people who can support you and reaffirm your commitment.
Step 1
Pick a date and mark it on your calender. The American Cancer Society recommends picking a date sometime in the near future. If the day you pick is too far off, you could change your mind about your quit plan or rationalize why you shouldn't quit.
Step 2
Make a promise to yourself to treat your body right and improve your health. Remind yourself of the risks associated with smoking and all the benefits of not smoking. Write a letter to yourself or write down your goal and post it in a place where you'll see it each day.
Step 3
Tell all of your friends and family members that you're going to quit smoking. This will pressure you into keeping your commitment in order to save face. Elect friends to keep tabs on your quit efforts to make sure you're staying on track with your goals.
Step 4
Join a support group or start counseling to help break your addiction to smoking. The added support will give you a boost and the weekly check-ins with professionals and others who are going through what you're going through will keep quitting at the front of your mind.
Step 5
Set a monetary goal, like saving enough money for a vacation, new car or piece of jewelry, for example. Post your goal where you can see it, then put the money you'd spend on cigarettes each week into a savings account. Choose a goal that will really motivate you to stick to your quit plan.
