It should be straightforward. You just stop smoking. And for some people, it’s that easy. But for others, it’s a real battle.

Want to Quit?
The one absolute essential is that you really want to quit. Really, really, want to quit. It’s no good thinking it would be ‘quit nice to quit one day.’ You have to be absolutely determined, and you have to set a date and time. ‘Soon’ doesn’t work. ‘Soon’ can drag on forever. You could still be saying ‘soon’ when you’re sixty.

How to Quit
Set a quit date – your first day smoke-free. Choose your quit date carefully. It’ll be much easier to quit if and when you’re busy thinking about other things. It’s a massive step to take, but it’ll be easier if you don’t dwell on it. Just get on with life. The more you think, ‘I’m quitting smoking – I haven’t had a cigarette for three days – it’s so hard,‘ the more cravings you’ll get and the tougher it’ll be. The harder you tell yourself quitting is, the harder it’ll be. So quit when you’re busy – on holiday, perhaps – and/or when you’ll be extra motivated. Quit to get fit for a sports event, for instance. Or maybe it’s the football season coming up at school and you want to make the team. You could quit as a fantastic Valentine’s present for your boyfriend or girlfriend.

Treat yourself – a few treats will keep you occupied and offer an alternative to cigarettes. You can buy some fantastic goodies without feeling extravagant; they’ll work out cheaper than cigarettes. Magazines are a good idea. So are CDs and DVDs. And computer games and consoles. You could take up a new sport or activity to make use of your improving fitness and to take advantage of the cash building in your bank account.

Don’t worry about your weight – you might’ve heard that people put on weight when they stop smoking. It’s true that some people put on a few pounds when they quit. That’s because they feel slightly hungrier and they eat more. It’s nothing to worry about, though. Any weight gain will be very slight. If it bothers you, though, no problem, just use a fraction of the willpower you used to kick the habit to diet for a while. It’s best to give in to your appetite while you’re quitting and to cut back later. A few tasty snacks can more than make up for a missed cigarette. Some people like to suck lollipops – sugar free ones are a good healthy option.

Remember: if you want to be slim, it’s because you want to be healthy and attractive. Smoking is the last thing you should do if you want to be either.

Wait out withdrawal – If you’re addicted to nicotine – and most smokers are – you may experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop smoking. These won’t last long; probably no more than a week. And they’re more annoying that crippling. Some common withdrawal symptoms include feeling anxious and irritable, having problems sleeping and feeling a bit run down overall. It’s very tempting to light up to feel fresh again. Just wait those extra few hours or days, though, and you’ll feel ten times fresher – permanently.

Count the cash – The money aspect can’t be overemphasised. Of course, in the long term it’s your health that counts. But an extra £1500 a year to spend on yourself is an excellent short term incentive to stubbing out. To see just how quickly you’ll save a fortune, put the cash for a packet of cigarettes into a box – or somewhere safe – every time you would’ve bought a pack. The box will be bursting within a week or two. You could save for a year to hit the big bucks. But why struggle? If you’re tempted, spend as you go.