Congratulations on taking the bold step of quitting smoking! This is a difficult and admirable task that will have positive effects in both your short-term and long-term health. Here are five tips to help you quit successfully:

1. Make sure to form a plan: Set an official stop date and decide what strategies you want to use to help manage cravings, such as exercise or deep breathing.

2. Prepare for nicotine withdrawal: Know what to expect when you quit and how to address common symptoms.

3. Get educated about smoking alternatives: If you use nicotine replacement therapy, understand the benefits and risks associated with each method of delivery (e.g., gum, patches, etc.).

4. Find a support system: Reach out to family and friends for additional support or consider joining a smoking cessation program to get help from an expert.

5. Reward yourself: Celebrate your successes along the way by rewarding yourself with something that doesn’t involve smoking (e.g., a massage, a new hobby, etc.).

6.Use accredited programs such as your states quit line or Freedom from Smoking programs to help you. They have resources and a mentoring and group strategy that is proven to work.

Quitting smoking is hard but so worth it. With this advice, you’ll have the tools and resources to do just that. Good luck!