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► First thing is to set your mind: Absolutely set it first. But as nicotine is a powerful and addictive drug, it can be hard and you will need lots of willpower to break.
► Know about gain & loss and Change attitude to the myths: One of the important parts is to know what you would gain and what you would lose from stopping smoking. For withdrawal of smoking, in first few days you may feel distracted or unable to enjoy life. Set the attitude as the cigarettes are not a familiar friend but a greedy parasite drawing your constant attention.
► Realize and chase the Nicotine addiction withdrawal symptoms: first few days of withdrawal are really difficult and for some it can be a long struggle. But the things will start to get better after the third or fourth day of withdrawal. Nicotine withdrawal symptoms may make you restless, irritable, frustrated, sleepless, or accident prone – but these things will pass and you will quickly start to feel the benefits.
► Make a list of reasons why you want to stop smoking. Think about the benefits for better health, savings of time and cost expenditure, socio-economic aspect, impact on family and generations, comfort in public places, and so on.
► Set a date… Every people select a day for a new start. Any day will do, but choosing a date will help you for the mental preparation. Some people make a New Year’s Day resolution, others pick their birthday. You can also join in with many others on No Smoking Day – the second Wednesday of every March – when up to a million smokers have a go.
► Involve your friends & family… your whole commitment behind it will be checked and it will help you to have the right frame of mind to face the challenge. If you live with someone else who also smokes, it will be much better and easier to quit if you do it together.
► Consider the cost… Main brand cigarettes now cost almost £5.00 for a packet of 20. Smoking 20 stick per day makes a yearly cost around £1,800. Do you still want to support the tobacco companies for profit?
► Find a temporary substitute habit: Smoking also involves having something to do with the hands or mouth. As this is part of the smoking habit, it might be an idea to use chewing gum, drink more water, fruit juice or tea, or to chew or eat something.
► Avoid schedules to avoid temptation. In the difficult first few days you can change your routine to avoid situations where you would usually smoke e.g. avoiding the pub on the Saturday night after you quit.
► Watch out for relapse… You have to be your guard especially for first few days and weeks. You could lose everything you’ve achieved just in a momentary lapse. It is really important to fight off the temptation and so do not think “I’ll have just one, it can’t harm.” don’t let “you are upset or under pressure” as an excuse to smoke for slipping back from your mindset of stopping smoking.
► Can’t stop immediately? Consider cutting down: Some research shows smokers cutting down and using nicotine replacement products (patches, gum, etc.) having a increase their chances of stopping smoking altogether.
► Sayings from a successful quitter: One ex-60-a-day smoker Allen Carr, author of best-selling The Easy Way to Stop Smoking, says: “there is absolutely nothing to give up… there is no genuine pleasure or crutch in smoking. It is just an illusion, like banging your head against a wall to make it pleasant when you stop.”