I think it’s about time I prepare to quit smoking. I’ve been a smoker since I was about 16, and I’m getting quite tired of being a slave to the cancer sticks. If you are also a smoker that wants to stop smoking, this post is for you.
The biggest problem smokers have with quitting smoking is the strong addiction we have built up over the years. It’s a beast of a battle to quit. For me, cigarette smoking provides a way for me to ‘take it easy’, or ‘relax’. I quote those because I know they are false.
For instance, while I am working, I routinely run into issues and problems that I need to find a resolution for. Many times, these issues will cause me to simply look at the issue and think. My issues are like puzzles, that’s the way of the programmer. We solve puzzles every day. When I hit a puzzle, I like to have a cigarette to ‘change things up’ and ‘get a different perspective’. Because I have to go outside to smoke, I get a ‘nice’ break and time to consider the work-related problem I’m facing.
I’m going to be writing a small series of posts that will guide me through the process I use to quit smoking. Yes, I’ve done this before, and I’ll do it again, and again, until it sticks.
Prepare to Quit Smoking
So what can I do to help me prepare to quit smoking? Here’s a list of items, not in any particular order.
- Realize that I want to quit and commit to quitting
- Identify the reasons why I want to quit
- Identify the triggers that cause me to smoke
- Establish a support system to help me quit
- Find a healthy addiction to replace smoking
- Define a date to start quitting
- Define rewards for reaching milestones
- Identify web sites that will serve to encourage and remind me why I’m quitting.
- Find some way to not be a big cranky asshole while I kick the habit. This will only serve to save myself from getting the crap beat out of me by my friends and co-workers and Jacq, most importantly.
I’m going to expand on each of these items in future posts. I’m not going to just up and quit, that never works for me. I need time to mentally prepare myself for that big day. It helps when I have the proper approach.
This is the first step I am taking to quit smoking. If you are a smoker and are in the same boat as I am, why not take the first step too? Write a post that tells your readers that you are going to prepare yourself to quit smoking and start that ball rolling today!
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Wayne John is a web developer in Southern California that shares his 25+ years of programming and web development experience freely and happily to anyone willing to learn. He also loathes speaking in the third person. If you enjoyed this post, make sure you 
First of all, a smoker must really want to stop. He needs strong motivation. Many smokers fail to quit because of doubt-they doubt their ability to succeed.
Success depends almost wholly on the smoker’s determination and will to stop. Without this determination, no anti-smoking remedy will succeed. But with it, a person can quit without paying for some expensive anti-smoking remedy.
Taking the first step to quit smoking is hard but staying smoke-free in the first few days is the hardest. Good advice indeed.
yea Deepak you right… i have now quit smoking and that was one of my main conserns, as well as money… I stopped with the help of the electric cigarettes you can now get.. these only have 2 chemicals in then and come with an eu stamp for safty
Did you know that there are over 4,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke? These include formaldehyde (used to preserve dead bodies), ammonia (used in strong cleaning liquids) and cadmium (a highly poisonous metal used in batteries).
And if that isn’t reason enough for you to quit smoking, there are more
Thanks for the advice! That’s how I pretty much tackle everything in life. I’m becoming a pro at stopping smoking…
Nice post, Wayne.
For me, this is what I did when I quit smoking.
1. I Set The Goals That Inspire Me.
Without clear goals, I am not able to focus my time and effort on what I really want.
2. I Developed My Action Plan
There are many ways to quit smoking. I decided on one and kept to it.
3. I Took Action
Every step I took, no matter how small, will bring me closer to my goals.
4. I Kept Changing My Strategies Till I Succeed
Most smokers do not succeed in quitting smoking within their first 3 tries (me included). However, with a bit of determination, that is not difficutl to overcome.
For more tips on quit smoking, visit http://www.tipstoquitsmoking.net
Good day!
It is very informative and has a very good quality in it.
I like it…
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Thank you very much for your time.
It can be done! It’s all about will power. Stories like that are a reminder to everyone that it just takes the will to WANT to do it right? Thanks Stanley!
I have seen people first-hand quit after decades of smoking. My grandmother smoked from age 15 till 65! Then finally kicked the habit.
Good article for anyone trying to quit.
I can respect that approach, but I know that won’t work for me. I need to go all or nothing when I quit. I’ve always done cold turkey, and each time it’s worked pretty well.
No, the first week is absolutely horrible for me. I’m so sucked into having nicotine that I turn into a bear. hell, I wonder what my posts will look like! hahahaa
With all the supportive people that have been leaving comments, I’m feeling like I have this great big support group behind me, and that is the most encouraging thing to feel.
Thanks everyone!!!
I just remembered the method that I used when I finally quit for good. Not saying it would work for you, because everyone is different. But I decided that when I had one pack of cigarettes left, that it would be my LAST pack. When it was done, I was done. After being a 3-pack a day smoker, I made that last pack last almost a week. So I guess I “tapered off” by default. And when the last one was gone, I really did quit.
Now, the first week or so after quitting was just miserable. I expected to feel so GREAT! A non-smoker! But the body doesn’t give up its addictions so easily. I got a miserable cold and cough and sore throat and felt like hell. I didn’t cough when I smoked, suddenly I was a non-smoker and having coughing fits. I kept telling myself that my misery would end one day, whereas if I kept smoking I would wake up miserable every day at being held captive by those stupid things. It took about two years before I was able to say I was completely free of any longing whatsoever. I thought that day would never come, and you will, too. But I promise you that if you stick to it, eventually nothing will make you long for a cigarette. Until then, seeing someone smoke or certain activities will give you the passing urge. Good luck! Stay strong. And don’t be afraid to try quitting. You can’t win if you don’t try.
@Eric – Maybe each time you try it wears a little more on your soul, making it harder and harder each time. I agree though, it does seem to get harder each time.
I’m going to lie to myself and say it’s easy, and just prepare as much as I can. I know I can do this, I’ve done it many times before. It’s after I’ve quit that’s the killer.
Thanks for dropping by and the encouraging words. Cheers!
Hi, I followed you here from Mike’s site. I have been trying to decide to quit for about a month and a half now. Why is it so hard to “just do it” LOL. Well I’m like you, I have to make my mind up, then try to plan things out, then find some support. I have found a few blogs that kind of have a support network of their own, through posts and comments.
I have smoked since basic training in the service, for some reason back then you got a break if you smoked, but not if you didn’t. I have tried to quit a number of times and it always seems that something happens to make it harder each time. This time I’m trying to figure out how to not let long days, stressful work, and bills get me started again.
I wish you luck with your effort, and hope all goes well for you.
@Adam – Lizzie sounds like a strong woman. It’s definitely a problem to quit…especially when you are surrounded by it. Good on ya for not keeping it going. It is way harder the longer you wait. Thanks for the support!
@Jon – Wow, like a chimney! Somewhere along the line, I figured my best chances are by mentally preparing myself. If anything, this post should show that I’ve been through it, read all the psychology behind it, researched the best ways and found a path that works. My triggers for starting again are what I [b]really[/b] need to focus on…they kill me each time if I am not ready for them.
I’ll check your blog out! Thanks!
Hi, I was a smoker for more than twenty-five years and before I stopped I was getting through approximately 70-80 cigarettes per day. It wasn’t easy to stop and I tried many, many times before eventually succeeding. I did find that planning my quit was vital to my success. You seem to have put some careful thought into quitting, which in my opinion is crucial. Good luck and stick with it.
I’d also like to point out that I have just recently started a new blog ‘Quitters Cooperative.’ Its aim is to help people overcome nicotine addiction. Its only been up a running for a week or so and due to my other commitments I haven’t been able to post on it as regularly as I would have liked, but you may find something to help you succeed. Why not drop by ?
http://quitterscooperative.blogspot.com
I’ll be thinking of you and your battle. I personally was never an addicted tobacco smoker(did some social smoking of tabacco and such), so I can’t really relate to the struggle. Although my bro, my dad, and my wife Lizzie all had to beat the habit…and they are no stronger than you…well Lizzie is stronger than all of but, she is the exception….lol..good luck..you can do it.
@Karen – Thanks Karen, that’s really sweet of you to say. I wouldn’t feel bad, things are constantly changing right? Thanks for the happy thoughts!
@Ryan – You’re killing me. My Halloween pix are going to be public humiliation enough…
If I can do it for a year, I’m home free for sure. Maybe I’ll make the first seven days a milestone each.
@Gary – Impressive stuff Gary, both your ability to quit and the Alaskan Cruise. Jacq and I did one about 3 years ago and it was a great time. We did the train at the end. I have been looking at some pictures and considered posting them up. I made a goof of myself with the video…
@How I – Thanks bud! At least you gave it that college try…lol.
@Phil – You said it well Phil. I didn’t even think about the tobacco company (I’m brand loyal) at all. In fact, I don’t think I still feel either way. I mean, they made the product, it was up to me to buy it or leave it. They still make too much money for what they do right?
@Leslie – I haven’t quit yet, so hold those congrats for about a month after I do. Dirty dirty habit.
you need to commit ifn you gonna do it. So how bout something like this, if you can do it for a year, you get a reward of some sort, a party, etc. If you blow it, you need to pay up with some sort of public humiliation that could be used to amuse the masses.
I’m proud of you. I quit once for four months, didn’t last. At this juncture I just don’t want to. I smoked through both pregnancies and should probably feel bad about it, but I don’t. I have a rally funny ciagarette/pregnancy/eslie story that I will have to share one day.
I’ll be thinking good thoughts for you!
It is a dirty habit and I lit up right before reading your post. I’ve always said if/when I quit smoking it will be when/if I get pregnant. And then I’ll still have to have smokes in the house. Just so I know they are there. Then I’ll probably be a closet mommy smoker. Seriously though…congrats.
Hi, I have just quit, or am in the process of it. Over 3 months now actually.
I told everyone I quit over a year ago but started again after a couple of months but kept it a secret which meant I wasn’t smoking as much as I previously did. Anyway I’m now smoke free and I still have urges which don’t last as long as they used to. Get an inhalator, but don’t let anyone see you use it cos you will feel a bit strange!
Count the money you have saved on a daily basis, then weekly, then monthly.
It’s worth remembering the directors of Tobacco companies don’t smoke and they have been rolling in your money for decades, stop giving it to them!
Try anything that helps, patches, nicotine chewing gum and the inhalator and do things you like more that take up your time and attention. Good luck.
I was a smoker for about a year in college and thankfully quit the habit. It was disgusting, expensive, and unhealthy. I wish you the best of luck.
everyone has their own mystique for dealing with their personal problems. IN this case the “Monster” of quitting smoking. I quit after smokin g 2-3 packs a day for some40+years.—for the main reason being it dawned on me I could get more enjoyment if I spent the money that I was consciously burning up in smoke for other more materialistic wants. I quite, six monthes later I rewarded myself with a 42″ plasma TV and paid for it in cash.—I am now going for my second item on my wish list—that inland waterway Alaskan Cruise.—-do I have the odd twinge to light up yes, but if I distract myself for a minute, the urge evaporates and another day has gone by—-all one has to do is say, “NO” and remind oneself they are a better person for doing so—(for the first 12 weeks I used the Nicotine Nickaderm patches —-and begin to watch my checking account propser as tghe patches were cheaper than the cigarettes—and then when I didn’t ahve to even buy the patches—it was hundreds of dollars a month toward my wish list of stuff—-eeeeeehawwww, life is good.