The first week after quitting smoking is the hardest, and it's all downhill from there. Most people who quit smoking don't make it past the first week, since that's when the cravings are the strongest. Here are some tips to make sure that you don't relapse into smoking.

- Make sure to tell all of your friends (both the smokers and the non-smokers) that you're quitting. Communication is key here, make sure they know that you might end up a bit irritable or out of character for the next week or so.

- There's no such thing as having just one cigarette. You'll think that you can just have one and go back to not smoking, but that one cigarette will lead you to having more. Resist the urge to have even one.

- One puff is just as bad as one cigarette. Same as above applies. You're trying to quit smoking completely!

- Keep your mind occupied and you won't think about cigarettes. Hang out with friends (that don't smoke!), read a book, or watch TV.

- Buy a bag of hard candy. If you feel cravings for cigarettes, pop a hard candy in your mouth. It'll keep you busy long enough for the cravings to go away.

- Cravings really only last a few minutes, it just feels like an eternity! The best way to stop cravings in their tracks is to distract yourself. Do something that you normally don't smoke while doing, like cleaning or watching television.

- If you do slip up, throw the cigarettes away as fast as possible! Slipping up with just one cigarette is a lot better than slipping up with an entire pack.