Have you decided to finally quit smoking? If you want to become smoke-free, you can increase your chances of success by staying upbeat and planning ahead.

Smokers are often tempted to quit on the spur of the moment. However, taking the time to do a little planning and preparation can really increase your chances of long term success. Here are some tips to help set you up to be successful at quitting smoking:

1. Know why you smoke
Aside from nicotine addiction, there are many different reasons people may smoke, such as coping with stress or socializing. Identifying when, where and why you smoke is the first step in building a plan for living your life smoke-free.

2. Identify temptation triggers
Identifying triggers in your daily routine that can tempt you to smoke is important. Common triggers include drinking coffee, driving or finishing a meal. Learning to cope could include switching from coffee to tea or immediately leaving the table and doing the dishes after a meal.

3. Consider using nicotine replacement products
Using nicotine patches, gum or an inhaler can help manage withdrawal symptoms as you are trying to quit and potentially double your chances of success.

4. Develop a support system
Enlist one or more people to provide encouragement as you go through the process of quitting. A support system will help to remind you of all the reasons you have for wanting to quit so that you can get through any temptations. 

5. Have a plan if you slip and have a cigarette
It’s common to have a slip or two after quitting smoking. If this happens, just get back on track as soon as possible. Remind yourself that a slip is not a big deal and is no reason to give up your new smoke-free lifestyle.

For more information about how to stop smoking, visit www.quitnow.ca or call the Quitnow helpline toll-free at 1-877-455-2233 (available 10:00am to 6:00pm, Monday to Friday).