Attempting to stop smoking can be an extremely drawn out procedure. It could take a long period of time such as a number of months, or it could be something much shorter like only a few weeks. The precise timeframe that it takes to give up can differ significantly but what is important is ensuring that you are coming up with a plan to fight your desire to smoke.

Sooner or later in your experience trying to stop you will encounter a situation where the urge to smoke is exceptionally powerful. How you cope with this situation will go a long way towards your final triumph. Being ready for the urge to smoke will make sure that you have a plan to maintain your resolve strong and continue on your path to stop smoking successfully.

Tip 1. Spend some time to decide exactly when you typically smoke. For instance, after meals, after a jog around the block, or even after your shower each morning. Knowing when you typically smoke will put you in a good position to create a plan to combat the urge.

Tip 2. Create a plan of attack. This could be something as simple as a stress ball for your hands, or even just a piece of hard candy to keep your mouth engaged. If you especially get pleasure from the taste and feeling of a clean mouth you could try brushing your teeth every time you want to smoke, or suck on a mint flavoured sweet, which will improve your breath.

Tip 3. Steer clear of the temptations that lurk. If you go out to have a meal, make sure you are sitting in the no smoking section. Avoid going into tobacco stores, and also try to restrict the amount of time you are in the region of other smokers. If you are continuously around cigarettes, it will be much harder to avoid temptation.

Tip 4. Clean your house of all smoking instruments. This means all ashtrays, lighters, matches and get rid of the smell of cigarettes. Products like Febreeze are great for helping to get rid of cigarette smell, which can also initiate an urge to smoke.

Tip 5. If you have a place where you normally smoke when you are at home, think about rearranging the area. If you are able to break the routine of the situation, you will be able to resist temptation much better. This works best if you always are in the habit of smoking in the exact same place, such as a living room looking out a window. If you move the chair to a different area of the room, or refocus the center of the room then you can help to avoid the temptation to smoke whenever you are sitting in the chair looking out the window.

Tip 6. Write down your goal to stop smoking. This may seem like a unimportant detail but in reality, it can go a very long way towards ensuring that you keep your priority to stop smoking at the top of your agenda. If you just tell yourself that you want to quit smoking, you are more apt to cheat and in the end give into the desire to light up again. If you have written your goal down, you are going to be more likely to actually follow it. This goes for quitting smoking, losing weight, changing your exercise routine or anything else. Written down goals can improve accountability significantly.

Tip 7. Do not discount yourself. If you are absolutely certain that you can be successful you will be much more capable of the success that you need. It is important to believe that you can be successful. This will help you to stay strong anytime a serious urge kicks in. If you decide to slip up consciously, you are going to find it is much more difficult to gain back any slack that you have cut for yourself. On the other hand, if you hold fast to your devotion to quit smoking you will find that each time you have an urge it is easier to handle.