I remember vividly when my mom stopped smoking.  While I was in college, she and my sister came to visit me with my beautiful new niece Dawn and my mom had stopped smoking!  I also know from my conversations with her that she mentioned numerous times that “quitting smoking was the hardest thing she has ever done”!  Another thing she mentioned was that you should keep trying to stop even if you start again because the next attempt you will be successful.   “Develop a quit smoking plan today!”

CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Smoking

Have You Built a Quit Plan?

One of the keys to a successful quit is preparation. A great way to prepare to quit smoking is to create a quit plan. Quit plans:

• Combine quit smoking strategies to keep you focused, confident, and motivated to quit
• Help you identify challenges you will face as you quit and ways to overcome them
• Can improve your chances of quitting smoking for good

The following steps will help you to create your own customized quit plan. As you move through the steps, keep a record of your plan and have it readily available during your quit.

Pick a Quit Date

When it comes to choosing a quit date, sooner is better than later. Many smokers choose a date within two weeks to quit smoking. This will give you enough time to prepare. Really think about your quit date. Avoid choosing a day where you know you will be busy, stressed, or tempted to smoke (e.g., a night out with friends or days where you may smoke at work).

Next Step: Circle your quit day on your calendar. Write it out somewhere where you will see it every day. This will remind you of your decision to become smokefree and give you time to prepare to quit.

Let Loved Ones Know You Are Quitting

Quitting smoking is easier with support from important people in your life. Let them know ahead of your quit date that you are planning to quit. Explain how they can help you quit. We all need different things, so be sure you let friends and family know exactly how they can help.

Next Step: Support is one of the keys to successfully quitting. However, it can be hard to ask for help, even from the people closest to you. Review tips on getting support to make sure you get the help you need.

Remove Reminders of Smoking

Getting rid of smoking reminders can keep you on track during your quit. Smoking reminders can include your cigarettes, matches, ashtrays, and lighters. It may also help to make things clean and fresh at work‚ in your car‚ and at home. Even the smell of cigarettes can cause a cigarette craving.

Next Step: Throw away all your cigarettes and matches. Give or throw away your lighters and ashtrays. Don’t save one pack of cigarettes “just in case.”

Identify Your Reasons to Quit Smoking

Everyone has their own reasons for quitting smoking. Maybe they want to be healthier, save some money, or keep their family safe. As you prepare to quit, think about your own reasons for quitting. Remind yourself of them every day. They can inspire you to stop smoking for good.

Next Step: Make a list of all the reasons you want to quit smoking. Keep it in a place where you can see it every day. Any time you feel the urge to smoke, review your list. It will keep you motivated to stay smokefree.

Identify Your Smoking Triggers

When you smoke, it becomes tied to many parts of your life. Certain activities, feelings, and people are linked to your smoking. When you come across these things, they may “trigger” or turn on your urge to smoke. Try to anticipate these smoking triggers and develop ways to deal with them.

Next Step: Make a list of everything that makes you feel like smoking. Now, write down one way you can deal with or avoid each item on your list. Keep this list nearby during your quit. Having trouble with your list? Find examples of ways to deal with smoking triggers on our cravings page.

Develop Coping Strategies

Nicotine is the chemical in cigarettes that makes you addicted to smoking. When you stop smoking, your body has to adjust to no longer having nicotine in its system. This is called withdrawal. Withdrawal can be unpleasant, but you can get through it. Developing strategies to cope with withdrawal ahead of your quit can help ensure you stay smokefree for good!

Next Steps: Medications and behavior changes can help you manage the symptoms of withdrawal. Many quit smoking medications are available over the counter. Make sure you have them on hand prior to your quit. While medications will help, they can’t do all the work for you. Develop other quit smoking strategies to use with medications. Remember that withdrawal symptoms‚ including cravings‚ will fade with every day that you stay smokefree.

Have Places You Can Turn to For Immediate Help

Quitting smoking is hardest during the first few weeks. You will deal with uncomfortable feelings, temptations to smoke, withdrawal symptoms, and cigarette cravings. Whether it is a quitline, support group, or good friend, make sure you have quit smoking support options available at all times.

Next Steps: Plan on using multiple quit smoking support options. Keep them handy in case you need them during your quit. Here a few options you may want to consider:

• SmokefreeTXT: A mobile text messaging service designed for adults and young adults across the United States who are trying to quit smoking.
• Quitlines: If you want to talk to a quit smoking counselor right away, call 1–800–QUIT–NOW (1–800–784–8669).
• Quit Smoking Apps: Mobile phone applications can help you prepare to quit, provide support, and track your progress.
• Support Groups: Visit your county or state government’s website to see if they offer quit smoking programs in your area.
• Friends and Family: Getting support from the important people in your life can make a big difference during your quit.
• Medications: If you are using a quit smoking medication, such as the patch, gum, or lozenges, make sure you have them on hand.

Set Up Rewards for Quit Milestones

Quitting smoking happens one minute, one hour, one day at a time. Reward yourself throughout your quit. Celebrate individual milestones, including being 24 hours smokefree, one week smokefree, and one month smokefree. Quitting smoking is hard, be proud of your accomplishments.

Next Steps: You should be proud every time you hit a quit smoking milestone. Treat yourself with a nice dinner, day at the movies, or any other smokefree activity. Plan out your milestones ahead of time and set up a smokefree reward for each one.

Quit Day: 5 Steps

Congratulations on the decision to quit. Your first day without cigarettes can be difficult, but having a plan will make it easier! Don’t rely on willpower alone to keep you smokefree. Prepare so that you can feel confident in your ability to stay quit today.

Step One

Tell your friends and family that today is your quit day. Ask them for support during these first few days and weeks. They can help you get through the rough spots, but make sure to tell them how they can support you. Be specific; they aren’t mind readers.

Step Two

Get the support you need—either by developing your own quit plan or finding a quit program that works for you. A quit plan combines strategies that help you stay focused, confident, and motivated to quit. You might decide to use a quit program like SmokefreeTXT, or a quitline like 1–800–QUIT–NOW (1–800–784–8669), to get started. If you’re not sure exactly which quit methods are right for you, visit the Quit Smoking Methods Explorerto learn more. If nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is part of your plan, make sure to start using it first thing in the morning. Remember, there’s no right way to quit—be honest about what you need. Just don’t celebrate with a cigarette.

Step Three

Stay busy. It might seem simple, but staying busy is one of the best ways to stay smokefree on your quit day. Try one of these activities:

• Get out of the house
• Go to dinner at your favorite smokefree restaurant
• Go to a movie
• Chew gum or hard candy
• Keep your hands busy with a pen or toothpick
• Relax with deep breathing
• Plan a game night with non-smoking friends
• Change your regular routine
• Drink a lot of water
• Exercise

Step Four

Avoid smoking triggers. Triggers are the people, places, things, and situations that trigger your urge to smoke. On your quit day, it’s best to avoid them all together. Here are a few tips to help you outsmart some common smoking triggers:

• Throw away your cigarettes, lighters, and ash trays if you haven’t already
• Avoid caffeine, which can make you feel jittery; try drinking water instead
• Hang out with non-smokers; most people don’t smoke, so you should have options
• Go to a place where smoking isn’t allowed; unless you want to break the law, you won’t light up
• Get plenty of rest and eat healthy; lack of sleep and too much sugar can trigger you to smoke

Step Five

Stay positive, but vigilant. Quitting smoking happens one minute, one hour, and one day at a time. Don’t think of quitting as “forever”. Pay attention to right now, and the days will add up! Quitting smoking is difficult, but it doesn’t hurt to say positive; don’t beat yourself up. Day one isn’t going to be perfect, but all that matters is you don’t smoke—not even one puff. Reward yourself for being smokefree for 24 hours. You deserve it!

If you’re not feeling prepared to quit today, set a quit date that makes sense for you. It’s okay if you need a few more days to prepare to quit smoking.

Have you tried before and failed to quit smoking?  Develop a quit smoking plan AND just keep trying-you can do it!

Proven tobacco control strategies and programs, in combination with enhanced strategies to rapidly eliminate the use of cigarettes and other combustible, or burned, tobacco products, will help us achieve a society free of tobacco-related death and disease.