Choose a specific quit date—perhaps your birthday or anniversary, or your child's birthday—and mark it on your calendar. If you give yourself at least a month to prepare, you're more likely to succeed than if you decide New Year's Eve to quit the next day. Pick a week when your stress level is likely to be low.

Think about all the ways that quitting smoking will improve your life and your health. Make a list to remind yourself.

Get rid of temptations and reminders of smoking. Throw out all of your cigarettes. Remove ashtrays from your home, car and workplace.

If you've tried to quit before, think about what you learned from those attempts. Are there certain people, places, feelings or activities that encourage you to smoke? Plan to avoid them as much as you can.