You tried to quit smoking more times than you can count and it just hasn’t worked! This article will give you five steps to stop smoking and tell you how to follow through.

The first way to stop smoking is to smoke “every other” cigarette. Every other time you pull a cigarette out of the pack, put it back. Pretty soon, you will be putting back more cigarettes than you smoke.  The second step would be to use the pressure point on the outer ear. Before you pull out a cigarette, hold the outer ear between your thumb and finger and squeeze. Applying the pressure will help you fight the urge to smoke. Step number three involves putting out the cigarette a little early. Take two puffs off the cigarette and put it out! When you do this, you still get some of the nicotine, but you aren’t getting all you were used to. As your days go on, you will get use to not having as many cigarettes and as much nicotine. Step number four is to reduce your smoking to only two cigarettes a day. This involves saving the cigarette you just took two puffs from for the next smoke. If you put it out after two puffs and smoke every other time, two cigarettes will last the whole day! You can safely save a cigarette with a metal tube. Once you are comfortable with smoking two cigarettes a day, this may take weeks, its time for step number five: put the cigarettes down! Promise yourself that in one week, you can have a cigarette (if you REALLY want it) and mark it on the calendar. If you want your cigarette in one week, smoke it all at once and don’t touch another for two weeks. Eventually, you will be fine with no cigarettes.

The five step program is possible if you want to stop smoking. Remember to cut yourself some slack if you mess up one day. If you can’t follow through with the five steps on your own, there are medications out there to help you. Whatever it takes, it is worth it! Smoking will shorten your life and the lives of your loved ones. Second hand smoke is as deadly as smoking itself and you are exposing your loved one to it. Stop smoking today and be proud of yourself for being successful!