You did not fail!

You're not a failure! If you've tried to quit but went back to smoking, don't toss aside your attempt as worthless. Use it to try again and succeed. If you've quit smoking for just 24 hours in the last few months or weeks, you've doubled your chances of quitting for good in the coming year!

Research has shown that most people don't quit for good on the first try. They need a few tries. Think of your quit attempt as a learning experience. Learn from it. You'll be more likely to quit for good next time. Don't give up!

Feel good about what went right, and make a plan for what you'll do differently the next time. Before your next quit attempt:

• Decide why you want to quit. Not why other people want you to quit, but why you want to quit. Talk with your doctor about the health benefits you can expect from quitting.
• Figure out what went wrong. Did it turn out to be a bad time to quit? Did you need more support? Did your rely too much on will power and not enough on changing your routine?
• Make a plan for how you'll deal with tough times next time you quit. Know what you'll do when it's hard to resist a smoke.
• Talk with ex-smokers you know about how they did it. Let them help you.

Keep up the good work!

If you've tried any of these new habits, keep them up. If not, give them a try.

• Exercise three to four times each week for at least 20 minutes each time.
• Try deep breathing when you feel stressed.
• Give up your three favorite cigarettes.
• Set a new quit date. If you were using nicotine replacement therapy or Zyban®, stop using them until you quit again. Remember to inform your doctor.

Where else can you turn?

Maybe you need to take a different approach. If you need more help, you may benefit from a quit smoking group or clinic. To find out about a good smoking program in your area:

• Call your local hospital, the American Cancer Society or American Lung Association.
• Ask your doctor for help. One or two visits can help you through the toughest part of quitting.
• Call the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER. It's a nationwide, toll-free number with a specially trained staff of information specialists who can provide you individualized assistance in quitting, as well as information on how to find smoking cessation services in your community.

Try Again!

"There is no failure except in no longer trying." -Elbert Hubbard