Many people want to get out of the habit of smoking. Not one person has ever led a healthier or safer life because of smoking; it only brings harm. Read this article to learn how to end your smoking habit forever.

Just take each day as it comes. Quitting smoking is a long process. Do not think too far ahead in time. Just go through it one day at a time, just getting rid of the smoking habit in the short term.

If you want to stop smoking, you need to make a list on how you will go about quitting. Sit down and make a list of things that will work for your personality. Everyone has a unique style that helps them achieve their goals. To get the best results, it is critical for you to identify your own strengths and weaknesses and the tactics that are most suited to them. This is accomplished when you create your own list.

Improve your chances of successfully quitting by sharing your plan to quit with supportive loved ones and friends. The encouragement you receive can provide extra motivation during rough patches, and telling people about quitting will help you stay more accountable. Have a few people on stand-by whom you can call for distraction whenever you get a craving.

In order to quit smoking, find something else you can hold in your hand and put in your mouth. Many smokers find it hard to quit because they have an urge to have a cigarette in their hands and mouth. Rather than a cigarette, you can hold onto a straw.

Avoid situations that you would be more likely to smoke. For example, if a bar that you frequent allows smoking, you may want to think about going to a different bar. By avoiding these kinds of situations, you will be less apt to want to pick up a cigarette in the first place.

Looking at a picture of smoker’s lungs may be all you need to quit smoking. When a person smokes, their lungs turn black after a while and they could end up with lung cancer. As harsh as it may seem, viewing the picture may set off a signal in your brain to quit.

Thinking of all the benefits you will receive when you quit smoking may give you the motivation you need. You will be able to save money, you will feel healthier, you won’t smell like cigarettes, and you will live a longer life. If you have children, think of how much they need you.

To help you quit smoking, some people say that eating low calorie snack foods is very effective. Try purchasing mini carrots, cut up broccoli, cauliflower, dried fruit, low calorie cereal, or sugar-free candy. Consuming any of these items when you have the desire to smoke can help control cravings and keep your mouth busy.

As bad as your urge is, it is not okay to take even one little puff. People who are trying to quit smoking believe that it will not harm them to have one puff of a cigarette. The problem is, this one puff leads to one whole cigarette, and then to one whole pack.

To stay true to your plan to quit smoking, make up motivational note cards to read whenever you get a craving. Keep these cards on your fridge, in your car, in your purse or wallet and even in a drawer at work. Any time a craving strikes, read and repeat the message on the card like a mantra to refocus your efforts.

Choose a date to quit and stick to it. Make a big deal out of this date. Write it down on your calendar, even consider having some sort of ceremony to mark the date for yourself. You need to instill this date in your head — the importance of it — so you can use it as a driver to stay on task for the long run.

When you quit smoking, remember that the first week will invariably be the hardest. For the first two days after quitting, your body rids itself of the highly addictive nicotine, leading to physical withdrawal. Once the first couple of days have passed, cravings are generally psychological in nature. While still difficult, this will make resisting them considerably less traumatic.

When cravings strike, remember that they almost always pass within 10 minutes, so do something to distract yourself. Walk to the water cooler, have a healthy snack, meditate, or call a supportive friend to keep your mind off your craving. You’ll be surprised at how quickly it’s over, and your delaying tactics can keep you from giving in.

With any luck, you now feel more capable of following through with your goals. Keep in mind that there are people who love and care for you, and they want you to be with them as long as possible, so use what you’ve learned here today to kick that cigarette habit for good.

Quit Smoking Starting Now With These Tips was originally published on Spring