Cigarettes have the ability to become an addictive substance very quickly. Individuals often take to this habit almost instantly, very often right from the point of inhaling the smoke for the very first time. Once it becomes a habit, it is very difficult to quit smoking these tobacco sticks. However, it is not impossible to quit the addiction and many have successfully broken the bad habit altogether, even after years of smoking continuously.
Many people smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day! Not only is this a health risk, but it makes it quite a costly hobby. Both of these points are reason enough to quit the habit, albeit not a very easy process.
Other than the health risks involved and the addition to you monthly budget, other reasons for quitting smoking can include religious beliefs or pressure to do so from concerned friends and family members. It is also a taboo to smoke around others, especially children and pregnant women, since your second-hand smoke can be very harmful to them and their unborn children.
Once you have decided to stop smoking, the first step is to decide on an exit plan, since it is not a simply action of waking up one morning and just not lighting a smoke. A plan of action needs to be made, these plans will differ depending on a person’s personality type and capabilities.
A piece of advice is to not go cold turkey by immediately stopping the habit. It is much better to wean one’s self off by reducing the amount smoked each day. This way you are less likely to suffer from withdrawal symptom or go into shock.
Ex-smokers who have one the battle and have dropped their smoking habit only have good things to say and in general, lead happier and healthier lives. While it is not and easy addiction to overcome, especially if you have been smoking for many years, the bad habit is not as difficult to overcome as other harsher substances.
If you are a smoker, I hope you read this post and feel motivated to quit smoking, especially since we have just started a new year with new possibilities. God luck!
This post has been edited by a member of the 
@blue-pencil team.
