Think about ways you can change your smoking habits long before your quit date. You can even continue to smoke as you normally do, but introduce a few small changes to help you prepare for your quit day.

Cut back on your smoking even before your quit date, to help make smoking less of a habit and introduce yourself to the feeling of control. Perhaps you can start by skipping the cigarette you have when you read the evening paper. Or maybe you can skip your smoke breaks at work and limit smoking to just your lunch break. If you are like many smokers, you love that first cigarette in the morning. This is not the cigarette you should initially cut out before you've reached your quit date! In due time you'll get rid of that favored smoke, too.

Make minor tweaks in your routine so that smoking will be a little less convenient for you. Here are some suggestions:

Make smoking as inconvenient as you can. This helps lay the groundwork for breaking the smoking habit. The goal is for you to be emotionally ready when your quit day arrives. Every small step you take between now and then will make you better prepared for that moment.