For many, it's also time to take stock of our lives and resolve to do better. Edwin B. Fisher, Ph.D., professor of psychology, medicine and pediatrics at Washington University in St. Louis and the head of cancer prevention at the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital, believes picking a quit date is an important first step in smoking cessation. Smokers can prove to themselves that they can quit. Even if they quit on the first and start again on the third, at least they'll know they can quit for a few days. When they finally make the decision to quit forever, that knowledge can help.
Many people choose New Year's Day as a quit date.
Either way, they'll be better off. It also is important to remember that in the long run, quitting smoking is a way for a person to treat themselves better. Smokers have to realize that it's another way to be good to themselves. It may take a few days or weeks, but ultimately, quitting will make them feel better. Quitting smoking is a particularly common and difficult resolution to keep.