1. Change your routine. The addiction to smoking is more than an addiction to nicotine; it is an addiction to learned behaviors. If you often smoke while at the computer or watching TV, you have created mental cues that make you feel as though it’s time to smoke. To break these mental cues, get out of your routine and try something new.

2. Create new habits. Exchange your bad habits for good ones. Make a commitment to go for a brisk walk every day or to take up a new hobby. What’s important is that you do something to get your mind off of the fact that you’re not smoking by doing something you didn’t do while you smoked.

3. Exercise. Exercise provides your brain with a natural source of endorphins and can help stave off the extra pounds many put on when they quit smoking.

4. Limit your intake of alcohol. Alcohol lowers your inhibitions and increases your likelihood to “slip up.” For many smokers, the use of alcohol goes hand-in-hand with smoking; this is why alcohol should be avoided while your body and mind adapt to this new way of living.

5. Limit your intake of caffeine. Caffeine increases heart rate and blood pressure and can lead to anxiety. Like alcohol, smokers often associate drinking coffee with smoking, which is another reason to limit your consumption.

6. Chew gum, suck on lollipops, drink tea. You should have something to keep your mouth occupied. Gum works for many people. Others will need something they can hold, so small lollipops are a better choice. Herbal teas offer an abundance of rewards, both physical and mental.

7. Get support. No matter what you use to quit smoking, your chances success of greatly increase when you have the support of others. Freedom From Smoking, a program funded by the American Lung Association is a good place to start. You can find them at www.lungUSA.com

8. Arm yourself. Quitting smoking is extremely difficult. To increase your chances of success, use a proven smoking cessation aid that’s flexible enough to match your cravings and your lifestyle. NicRX contains a proprietary blend of herbs that have been proven to help end nicotine dependency, and is safe to take as needed to cope with sudden cravings.

9. Reward yourself. Put the money you would have spent on cigarettes into a glass jar and see how it adds up over the weeks and months without smoking. When you can finally say “I’ve Quit” take the money out of the jar and treat yourself to something nice.

10. Remind yourself - Smoking is an unhealthy habit that you’re lucky to be free from. In a year, in five years, in ten years, you will look back on this moment in your life and thank yourself for facing the challenge and deciding to quit smoking for good.