Below are the common stages in stopping smoking. Where are you in your personal battle against smoking? You may go through all the stages or only a few. You may go through some more than once.

Stage 1: You are a person who smokes and is concerned about your health.

Stage 2: You have decided that you will gather information about quitting.

Stage 3: You have decided to take some steps to reduce your smoking risk such as cutting back, changing brands, exercising.

Stage 4: You have decided you will definitely quit, but you are not ready to set a date.

Stage 5: You set a quit date and commit to quit on that date.

Stage 6: The target date arrives and you stop smoking. You also continue to seek information as you go day by day in search of a new, healthier life. (There are many strategies to try and help for any relapses that may occur.)

Stage 7: You are considered to be in the maintenance phase when you have stopped smoking for three months.

Stage 8: Take time to reward yourself for having accomplished a MAJOR step in improving your overall health, as well as increasing the odds for a longer and healthier life. Proudly take your place among the forty million people who succeeded in kicking the habit!

Continue on to find help with specific strategies to include in your plan.