Many people find it extremely difficult to stop smoking. Part of this is psychological, but part of this is also due to how physically addictive cigarettes and other forms of tobacco are. Although some people are able to quit "cold turkey," smoking cessation is not just a matter of willpower. Many people need multiple attempts to be successful. Fortunately, there are some strategies you can use to increase your odds of quitting for good.
Step 1
Define your goal. Many people find it easier to stop smoking if they have a particular goal they are working toward, such as saving money (that would be spent on cigarettes) for a vacation or special purchase, for health/cosmetic reasons, or to improve their fitness level. Defining something you want and thinking about how quitting smoking can help you to obtain that thing can be a great motivator and make it easier to withstand the cravings.
Step 2
Try nicotine-replacement products. One of the reasons why cigarettes are so difficult to quit is because they efficiently deliver nicotine, which is physically addictive. When you stop smoking, your brain craves nicotine, making you want to smoke. Nicotine replacement products can help reduce these withdrawal symptoms and come in the form of gum, lozenges, patches and sprays.
Step 3
Avoid your "social cues." For many smokers, quitting can be difficult due to the mental aspects of addiction. Many smokers have specific times of the day (during lunch or while drinking coffee) or activities (such as talking with coworkers) during which they smoke. If possible, try to avoid these situations or keep yourself busy during these times to avoid triggering your mental cues to smoke.
Step 4
Get counseling. Quitting smoking can be hard to do alone. Many communities have programs in which you can talk with counselors to help you through the quitting process. The American Cancer Society also has a service that you can call and talk to a counselor to help you through the quitting process. According to the American Cancer Society, people who get smoking cessation counseling are twice as likely to successfully stop smoking than those who don't.
