Everyone knows that smoking is a very unhealthy habit. Yet, for one reason or another, many pick up the habit and get hooked. Once you’re hooked, quitting can be extremely hard. Many people try over and over again to quit, only finding themselves overcome by addiction. But success is possible with persistence. Here are some tips on how to quit smoking.

You may not want to quit entirely at once. It all depends on you’re personal goals and preference. It’s acceptable to cut down gradually until you’re only smoking a few cigarettes a day, and then eliminate the habit entirely when you are ready. In fact, some smokers who try to quit all at once may put themselves at a disadvantage. For example, a smoker who decides to quit may slip and have one cigarette. If the person is trying to quit all at once, they may think they’ve failed entirely and give up on quitting. It is important not to beat yourself up over failures, but continue in spite of setbacks.

Once you’ve determined your goal, waste no time in starting to work toward it. Don’t tell yourself “I’ll start later.” Even if you take a small step, it’s important to make progress. Get started now.

Tell your friends and family about your goal. It is always helpful to have a support system. It may also be helpful to get them actively involved in helping you in some way.

Treat yourself when you stick to your goal. If you smoked less this week than last week, use the money you saved to buy yourself something small as a reward. You can also hold onto the money you save and buy yourself a bigger reward later. One of the eventual goals of quitting is to save money, but while your still working on it make sure you reward yourself for progress.

If you follow the advice provided, you should be on your way to a smoke-free lifestyle. There will always be times when you want to smoke, and there will be times when you mess up. The important thing is to keep trying. You will quit smoking if you refuse to give up.

I am having surgery on January 9th, I literally have to completely quit tomorrow. I am on the patch, but I keep cheating and taking one or two puffs every few hours. It only totals to maybe 2 cigarettes a day, but I need to be completely smoke free to go under the anesthesia. I know its easy to say, just don’t do it, but I feel like I have no control, no willpower, no anything! I have been smoking 2 packs a day for 17 years. Do I have a chance?

When I quit smoking, I found out it wasn’t easy. It was a habit of mine that I struggled with for years, but it was a calming habit. The cigarettes were always there for me, even if I had to go to the corner store in the middle of the night to buy more. Before deciding that I wanted to quite smoking, I spent literally thousands of dollars on my bad habit that would have been better spent on my daughter’s college education.

I quit smoking because I realized I was the last person out of my friends and family who smoked. Of course, there were other smokers around me. I’d see them on the streets or sidewalks, but these were nameless people and not compatriots in my battle with cigarettes. Most of the people I dealt with were smoke free, which made my habit start to feel a little isolating and uncomfortable.

Speaking of uncomfortable, I made honest efforts to stop smoking. I tried to find little ways to compensate for my damaging addiction and avoid making others pay because I couldn’t kick the habit. Truthfully, I liked smoking: I smoked outside, even when it was freezing rain and the wind was brutal. I smoked when my kids wouldn’t see me, so as not to be a poor role model. I even talked to my kids about why smoking was terrible and something they shouldn’t do. Strange how after those speeches, I always needed to have a cigarette.

I quit smoking initially for my kids, not for myself. I still miss the act of smoking and sometimes wish I could have a cigarette. The thought is constantly with me, that just one wouldn’t hurt and that longing to inhale. When I pass someone on the street who has a lit cigarette, I envy that person, even though he’s going to kill himself and die before me because he smokes and I don’t.

That’s the reason I quit smoking: I don’t want to die and leave my kids without a mother. It may be too late. My lungs may already harbor cancerous cells that are slowly growing, without me even noticing. But I feel better knowing I’m trying to reverse the damage because I don’t want my children to watch me get so sick that my hair falls out and I’m covered with tubes. I have a friend who has cancer, and she looks like that. I quit smoking because her kids, two and six, don’t understand why their mother is too sick to play or too tired to read a story.

You might have different reasons why you want to quit smoking. But I quit smoking because I wanted to be around to see my children grow up. When you decide that you want to stop smoking, write down the reasons for your decision and keep that piece of paper with you at all times. Also, consult with your doctor for tips on how to effectively quit smoking and overcome cravings. When it comes to quitting smoking, you can never have enough resources designed to help you quit. Try everything you can do to quit smoking before you do permanent damage to your body or your family.