So, why do so many people still smoke? Well, for one because the nicotine in cigarettes is highly addictive. However, for most, they still smoke because quitting is so hard. The following are 5 proven ways to help you quit smoking:

1. Make a list of all the things you like about smoking, and the things you don't.
(BE HONEST!)
When you do this, get a piece of paper, fold it in half width wise (hotdog), then draw a line down the center of a piece of paper. Write all of the things you like on one side of that line, and all the things you dislike, on the other. Examples could be, I like smoking because it calms me down, gives me something to do, is social. I don't like smoking because of how it can interfere with my health, work, and family

This is not something you just sit down and whip out, to have this list be helpful to you in quitting, you will want to think about the list over time. You will want to make changes, add to, and subtract from as you get more honest with yourself. One way to make it really helpful is to get feedback from family and friends about things they don't like about your use of cigarettes.

If you find that your positive side is larger than your negative, you are not ready to quit, so don't start yet. However, when the negative side outweighs the positive side, you are ready to quit.

Once you are ready to quit you will want to be honest with yourself again.

2. Make another list of why quitting won't be easy. You will want to be really honest, and really thorough. Even if the list gets long and discouraging, you need to make it. You counteract the discouragement by putting another entry next to each reason. What is this? You put in options for overcoming that challenge. For example, one thing that might be difficult is, "Nicotine is an addictive drug." Your option to overcome this challenge might be: "Try a nicotine replacement alternative." This is going to help you to quit because the more you anticipate the challenges to quitting, and discover their solutions before you start, the higher your chance of success.

3. Next is stay motivated.
The best way to stay motivated is to write down a quit by date, sign a contract with that to make it official, and then write down all your reasons for quitting on an index card and keep it near you, in your pocket, wallet, car, bathroom, anywhere you are a lot, as you want to have it by you at all times. To get you started use things like: "My daughter, my granddaughter, my husband, my wife..." Whoever, or whatever motivates you.

4. Think like a non-smoker.
Smokers think, buy cigarettes in bulk, have a whole pack with me, have them available at all times. When you are getting ready to quit, get rid of cartons, don't buy any more. The last thing you want to have cigarettes on hand when you are trying to quit, and especially to have them in bulk, this is a de-motivator, as you start to think of the wasted money, and postpone your quit date to.never! So, stop buying cartons of cigarettes. Instead, only buy a pack at a time, and only carry two or three with you at a time. If you do not have them to smoke immediately, you may get over the urge, and thus, it will be easier to wean down to fewer cigarettes a day, which will make quitting way easier.

5. Stay organized.
With any goal, or thing you are trying to accomplish you need a plan to get from start to finish. Having a set plan, and organization means greater success, even if there are deviations from the plan. So, take that approach with quitting. Have a plan, have goals week by week for how much you want to cut back in your smoking. Also, before you start trying to quit, you will want to keep a list of when you smoke, what you're doing at the time, and how bad the craving is. Do this for an entire week before quitting. This allows you to create a action plan to suit your specific needs. You will see if there are patterns, if there are specific times of the day or certain activities increase your cravings. Once you identify when you are most prone to smoking, you can plan fun, unique things to do during those times, to "distract" you from smoking. Some things others have found helpful include:
 take a walk
 drink a glass of water
 kiss your partner or child
 throw the ball for the dog
 wash the car
 clean out a cupboard or closet
 have sex
 chew a piece of gum
 wash your face
 brush your teeth
 take a nap
 get a cup of coffee or tea
 do yoga
So, make a list of things you will do when you crave a cigarette, and especially what you will do during the times you are most prone to smoking. Then make copies of the list and keep it with you at all times.