There are many different ways to stop smoking once you have made the decision to quit.
Some quit smoking methods may be more effective than others for you.
Only you can decide which method to use, but here are six for you to consider.

1. Quitting cold turkey.
   You will probably need lots of support from family members and friends to successfully quit cold turkey.
   However, you have a good chance of success if you metabolize nicotine slowly because you may not be as physically dependent on nicotine as others.
   
2. Slowly reduce the number of cigarettes.
   This will only work if you choose a pace that is realistic and that you are comfortable with.
   For instance, if you smoke two packs a day, don't say that by the end of two weeks you will have stopped.
   You are most likely setting yourself up for failure in this case.
   Instead, choosing to smoke one less cigarette a day may be a more realistic goal.
   Additionally, lighting up your first cigarette of the day, five minutes later each day is another small step to try.
   
3. Change one thing at a time.
   Most smokers smoke at least some of their daily cigarettes out of habit more than because of an actual craving for a smoke.
   Raise your awareness of why you are actually lighting up.
   Ask yourself if you are really craving a cigarette or just lighting up out of habit.
   Try to cut out the "habit" cigarettes while continuing to smoke the ones you cannot do without.
   When you have gotten rid of smoking "habit" cigarettes, then you can start on the rest.
   Remember to do this in small steps to have a better chance for success.
   
4. Reduce the number of cigarettes that you smoke in certain situations.
   For example, you may be used to having two cigarettes when you are on a break at work.
   Instead, slightly delay lighting up the first cigarette and don't smoke the second one at all.
   This way you are cutting down on your physical dependency in a relatively painless way because it is such a gradual change, as well as smoking less.
   
5. Consider using nicotine substitutes such as gum, spray or patches.
   These may help because they supply nicotine in ways other than smoking.
   Nicotine substitutes help smokers kick the smoking habit by allowing a gradual reduction in the amount of nicotine in the body.
   
6. Aversion therapy may work where other methods fail.
   The basic idea is to make smoking so completely unpleasant that you will not want to smoke.
   For instance, smoking one cigarette after another without pause and smoking until your mouth burns and you feel nauseous is one example of using aversion therapy to stop smoking.
   This works even better if you do this on a day where you wake up with a headache or have had little sleep.
   

So whether you are a heavy smoker or smoke a relatively small amount, finding the right quit smoking method is a personal decision.
You may find using a combination of these methods may be even more effective than using a single method.
Regardless of the method you choose, the most important thing is your decision to stop smoking.