How to quit cigarettes

I quit smoking in 1994 - after almost 30 years of the habit. A few things helped me.

First I realized what a control freak I am, and that cigarettes were controlling way too many aspects of my life. I wouldn't go to a movie, because it meant 2-3 hours without one. I didn't want to fly anywhere because I couldn't smoke. I dreaded visiting certain relatives in the winter, because I'd have to go outside to smoke. I *hate* not being in control, so hated cigarettes for controlling me. BTW, I didn't tell anyone I was quitting, because I didn't want the pressure or recriminations in case I failed.

1) I set a date after which would not buy another pack
2) I made my final pack last a LONG time which probably helped wean me off them a bit
3) The only one around I could bum from was my boss. How many time can you ask your boss for a cigarette without it being very annoying?
4) I took up needlepoint, knitting & crochet. Anything to keep your hands busy helps.
5) Procrastination. If I wanted a cigarette I told myself to do something else for 15 minutes & then if I still *really* wanted one, I'd go buy a pack
6) I cleaned the kitchen *immediately* after meals, so the old "after dinner smoke" trigger was removed
7) Baby carrots were a somewhat useful substitute
8) Almost forgot this one. I was spending about $20 a week on cigarettes. I started a savings stash into which I put a $20 bill every Saturday. Today that would be more like a $50 bill I guess? Seeing the money add up was a great incentive. After 12 months you'd have $600 to spend on something special for yourself

For the first 30 days or so it's pretty difficult. After that it becomes much easier. I never even thought about cigarettes after 90 days or so.

Good luck! It's well worth the effort.

I've been smoke-free for almost 8 years now. I used Chantix and it was definitely the hardest thing I've ever done! The one tip I will offer that I think helped me a lot is to try and break the psychological triggers before you quit. Driving was a big one for me, so a few months before I quit, I stopped smoking in my car. Then I made myself wait 15-20 minutes after a meal before I would light up. Once I broke those habits, it was far less traumatic to give up the cigarettes entirely. Good luck!

I quit cold turkey 6 years ago. I cried for days, like I lost my best friend. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done, but the most wonderful thing I could've done for myself. I smoked for many many years and suffer from Anxiety, cigarettes acted as an anti depressant for me as well. Now I am a fitness junkie...I traded one addiction for another, but this one is actually good for me. I wish you all the best and feel free to reach out to me if you need extra support. I know how hard it is to quit!!

I was a hardcore cigar smoker, and switched to cigarettes thinking I was going to be able to reduce and quit on my own. Didn't work!

In the end, I used Chantix and an electronic device called a QuitKey. During the week that I was ramping up the dosage of Chantix, I told the QuitKey whenever I smoked. Then after I got on a full dose level of Chantix, the QuitKey told me when to smoke and brought me down to zero in about 34 days. I stayed on Chantix for another month, then ramped down the dosage over about 10 days.

Worked like a charm. Never going back. Good luck to you...you CAN do it!

You really have to make up your mind. That's as simple as it gets. It's also hard.

Seriously, though, it is a decision. Don't make it anything more than that. YOU control YOU.

If you want to quit..Quit..I smoked since I was 13-14 years old..quit once for about 4 years..12 hours in divorce court and I started again...I am 58 now..quit cold turkey on my Birthday Sept 28th 2014.

did not change anything. I went down to the smoking area with my friends at work. I had about 1/2 pack of smokes left..I kept them for awhile..I simply made up my mind to quit and I quit.

I know it isn't easy, BUT life isn't easy..most things that stop us are excuses.

I need this to quit..or I have to stop this..or ..whatever..

Truth is..you don't need to do anything, except quit.

I wish you all the best.

A thousand ways to quit. All share determination, hard work, failure, and never giving up.

I smoked for 8 years, what it took was just really wanting it badly enough. Patches, gum and most other things I tried failed.. you have to be ready to quit and REALLY want it and then it'll be easy. When I quit I also didn't diet at all, eating whatever you want in the first few days helps lol but also staying really active. I also didn't drink alcohol for the first few months because for me it was a huge trigger.. now I rarely drink and I'm actually super jazzed about that. I hope you succeed, it's a tough journey but it's worth it.

Smoker for 20 yrs here. Have given up and relapsed about 4 times. For me, it came down to actually, really and truly, WANTING to give up. Because YOU want to. Not triggers or other people telling you to, advertisements or affordability. I had to WANT to give up. I didn't the other times. I was doing it for everyone else. Good luck. Do it for YOU!

I smoked 20 + a day for pretty much ten years, and then quit because I realised that I just really did not want to do it anymore. I think you need to look at them for what they really are, ie, little cancer sticks that systematically poison you and make you smell, out of breath and have glassy eyes, and not fun social props. I'd tried quitting multiple times in the past without actually wanting to quit, and that never worked. You have to just decide if you want to smoke, or if you don't. If you want to, just keep smoking. If you don't, just don't put them in your mouth. It's a midset thing, but totally doable! Plus I lost a lot of weight after I quit because I had so much more energy. Helps if you stop drinking for a few months too, as that's usually a trigger for smokers. Good luck