It may seem silly to think too hard about when to give up smoking. You may feel that if you have made up your mind, then you should just do it. However, this may not be the most sensible option for you.

You need to start by thinking about how you will cope once you give up. You may feel good about it at the moment, but there will be times when you get cravings and so you may need to think about what to do then. It might be wise to go to your GP for help with this.

If you tend to smoke when you are feeling stressed, then it is wise not to give up when you are particularly stressed as it could make it far more difficult. We all suffer from some stress and so it is wise to find an alternative way of coping with it. It might take time to find something that works and so it can be worth having a think about what that might be.

If people you know are giving up, then it could be good to give up at the same time as them. You can then help and support each other. If they are doing well then it should encourage you to keep going with it and if they are finding it tough, you might be able to help. They may be able to support you if you are struggling as well.

It can be a good idea to have a friend or family member willing to be at the end of a phone and talk to you if you get bad cravings. Then instead of turning straight to a cigarette, you can call them and ask them to tell you all the reasons why you should not have one.

Keep a written record for yourself as well of the reasons that you wanted to stop smoking and remind yourself of them when you are wavering. It can really help to remember that you want to be around longer for your children, have a healthier old age or be able run faster without getting out of breath.