11 strategies for quitting tobacco – for good

It’s clear: The best possible thing you can do for your health if you’re a smoker is quit. If you’re ready to become a former smoker, these tips can help you succeed.

Set a date. Try to pick a time when the temptation to smoke will be relatively low.

Make a plan. Tobacco is a serious addiction that's difficult to overcome. But there are cessation aids available. Talk to you doctor or other healthcare providers about what might be right for you. There’s no glory in going cold turkey and making it harder on yourself.

Consider your triggers, and plan alternative responses ahead of time. Do you smoke when you’re stressed? Try meditation or start an exercise plan. If you tend to smoke after dinner, try chewing gum or developing a different ritual instead.

Make a list of the reasons WHY you’re quitting and read it often. Constantly remind yourself of what’s good about not smoking. When it’s freezing outside, isn’t it nice not having to stand out there to smoke?

Enjoy the benefits of quitting. Your senses of smell and taste will begin to return after you’ve quit. Plan to buy yourself flowers or a lovely smelling essential oil to take advantage of your heightened sense of smell. Or occasionally enjoy a square of heart-healthy dark chocolate or another treat – just be careful not to go overboard and substitute overeating for smoking.

Tell someone. Ask a friend to help hold you accountable and to listen when you struggle.

Prepare your environment. Go through your home, your desk and your car and remove all traces of cigarettes, lighters, matches and ashtrays. Consider cleaning the interior of your car and washing curtains, bed linens and clothes to remove traces of smoke and make everything smell fresh.

Create new routines that don’t involve cigarettes. If you always take an afternoon break with the smoking crowd, plan for a break 30 minutes earlier and go for a walk instead. If you always smoke after dinner, plan another way to spend your time.

Likewise, get some distance from other smokers. Let your smoking friends and family know that your routine is changing and that you’d rather they not smoke around you. Anyone who tries to tempt you back into smoking isn't considering your best interests.

Use the money you don’t spend on cigarettes to save for something you want. Cigarettes are expensive; give yourself added incentive to quit by planning to use that money for something great.

If you fall down, pick yourself up and keep going. You’re not a failure if you succumb to temptation; you’re only a failure if you stop trying. Think about what caused you to smoke and how you might avoid or handle that temptation better next time.