For smokers who have been in that bad habit for so long, say a couple of years or so may have a hard time breaking the habit. Nicotine is a very powerful drug and anyone who gets addictive to it develops a certain kind of dependence to it. The decision to quit is the first step to have a life free from the awful spell cast on by nicotine. Follow these few tips to get you started: Do you know that when you smoke, more than half of what you take in is fresh air? Taking deep breaths help. More oxygen is being aided in to your bloodstream and will help you let go of your old cravings because it makes you feel good almost instantly. So whenever you get the urge of smoking, vanquish them by taking in deeper breaths. Think of all the good reasons why you should quit. You will be able to have a healthier way of living. You will be able to lower your chances of getting sick with emphysema, pulmonary diseases, stroke or worse, cancer! You will then be able to live longer and enjoy what matters more to life. Also, try to think about the bad things you dislike about smoking. It could be that you experience shortness of breath. Or that you feel lousy or dirty with the way your clothes or even your breath smell. Or the concerned looks you get from the people who care about you and your health and so on. Write it down on a piece of paper. Feel free to look at it whenever you can to aid you in overcoming that itch to light that cigarette whenever it arises. You could provide a healthier environment to your loved ones. Research shows that people who take in second degree smoke have a high risk of developing the same ailments a smoker can get. Also, if you’re an expecting mother, quitting could increase the possibility of having a healthy baby. Set a quit date and clear out everything that could be associated with smoking (e.g. lighters, ashtrays, etc.). Don’t allow other people to smoke in your home or in your office. Try to distract yourself with new things. Indulge yourself with outdoor activities with your loved ones. Plan something fun and productive each day. Get social support. Remember the saying “No man is an island?” You can get a better chance of quitting if you solicit help. Talk to your peers and family about your plans to quit. Get professional help from doctors or health care providers in your area. Enroll yourself in individual, telephone or group counseling. Motivate and reinforce yourself. Whenever you reach a certain mark, say, after a week or a month without a single puff, reward yourself. Recognize your efforts of trying to do something extraordinary. If ever you failed in some way like when you were tempted to smoke and you did, don’t feel discouraged and go right back on track. Only this time remind yourself of how bad or guilty you felt when you violated your own rules. Try even harder. Indeed, quitting is not an easy job. It could be conceptualized but may be very difficult to do with just a flick of a finger. But just like any concept, it can be done!