Many people deal with trying to quit smoking. Maybe you make a New Year’s Resolution every year to put away the smokes, and every year you find yourself grabbing a pack. Sometimes it’s because of stress, sometimes it’s because you miss socializing with other smokers, and sometimes it’s just because you enjoy it. Whatever your reasons, you know smoking is bad for your health. While it might seem too late to really make a difference, quitting smoking at any time in your life, whether you’ve smoked for three months or thirty years, can greatly improve your health. Here are a few tips for those of you who want to kick the habit but aren’t sure how or don’t want to turn to patches or other products.



- Set a date and stick to it. Decide when you want to quit, mark that day on your calendar, and then, when that day arrives, quit. This is the most important step in putting away the cigarettes forever. Don’t keep saying “one more day" or “this is my last one" because you’ll always keep saying that.

- Create a support group. Don’t just tell yourself that you’re going to quit smocking—announce your decision to your friends, family, and, most importantly, everyone you usually smoke with. Let them know that you can’t smoke with them any longer and that you’d appreciate it if they would go on smoke breaks without mentioning it to you. In fact, you might even want to ask that visitors to your home refrain from smoking while they are there.

- Get rid of everything related to smoking. This includes all cigarettes and packs, ash trays, and cigarette lighters. You don’t necessarily have to throw the ash trays and lighters away, but put them somewhere out of sight. The fewer reminders you have, the easier it will be to kick the habit.

- Visit with your doctor about your decision. He or she may have some ideas for ways to avoid picking up smoking again. Your doctor can also give you a checkup and let you know how your lungs are doing and give you a list of all the benefits quitting smoking will provide.

- If you find yourself wanting a cigarette, try to distract yourself with something else. A sugar-free sucker, for example, may take care of that oral fixation that some smokers have. Chewing gum can also help.

- Many people smoke when they have nothing else to do. If you find yourself wanting to smoke to fill time, get involved with a new hobby. Pick up some new books, get a sketchpad and draw, or learn to play an instrument.

- Finally, be ready for a relapse. Few people succeed in quitting their first time around. They may stop for several months or even a year, but many pick up a cigarette every now and then. That’s OK. Simply make certain that this one cigarette doesn’t lead to another and another.