Smoking is done automatically without even thinking about it. Other useful strategies include seeking professional help from mental health counselors or clergy and utilizing a nicotine-replacement therapy. Someone who wants to stop smoking also should identify triggers for smoking. A good way to do this is to keep a log for one week. By reviewing the log, the person should be better able to anticipate possible stumbling blocks and identify strategies ahead of time to help avoid the smoking triggers.
Careful planning is key to successful tobacco cessation.
Selecting the right smoking cessation method is critical for individual success. The smoker should consult with a physician to determine the best method. Cold turkey, complete and immediate withdrawal from smoking on the selected quit date, is typically the least successful method. In fact, statistics show that only 2.5 percent of tobacco users are able to quit this way. If cutting down gradually is the selected method, it is best to smoke only half of each cigarette, delay the first cigarette each day by one hour or decide to smoke only during odd or even hours of the day.