I'm not going to tell you how terrible smoking is, far from it. What I am going to tell you is what it's like to be a quitter

I loved smoking. It was one of my absolute favourite things to do. Actually, if I'm being honest it was my favourite thing to do. Not only did I love it, I was really good at it too, cracking through at least 20 cigarettes a day with the greatest of ease. Sadly though, even the best relationships can turn sour and so, after 12 happy years, my ciggies and I parted a fond farewell.

I know many people will have stubbed out their last cigarette on 1 January 1 (New Year, new start and all that). For them and for anybody who is thinking about giving up, I want to give you a little glance into the future and a few things I've learnt that might just help you on your way.

Socially

When I was in my early 20s all my friends smoked but things are different now. I haven't changed my friends to match my new non-smoking lifestyle but magically, one by one, they've come to join me. Smoking doesn't make you a social pariah but it's definitely not necessary to be 'in the gang'.

I think growing up has something to do with it but society is changing too. The decadent naughtiness of smoking is somewhat diminished by standing in gale force winds and sub zero temperatures in order to do so.

That first cigarette of the day

This used to be my absolute favourite cigarette, closely followed by cigarette with a beer or cigarette after a meal (I'll come onto these later). The great news is that I do not miss the early morning cigarette AT ALL. Not one bit. After the first few weeks of giving up were over this was one of the first desires to ebb away. I imagine this is because first thing in the morning you don't have any external factors contributing to your smoking choice, other than habit that is.

With a coffee

I used to think of coffee and cigarettes as the ultimate duo. What better combination was there? Your winning combo might be fags and tea or diet coke but whatever it is, the fundamentals are the same; a combination that you can't imagine enjoying without the cigarettes.

I stopped drinking coffee before I gave up smoking. This definitely helped. If this is a pitfall that you think might create a problem for you then think about changing your drink of choice. It doesn't have to be forever but giving up smoking can be tough. You need all the help you can get, so why not make life a bit easier for yourself? For those die-hard coffee fans, you'll be pleased to know that I am now back on the coffee and enjoy lounging around in coffee shops just as much as I always did.

With a drink

This must be the trickiest of areas. It's not just that these two seem like a winning combination, it's that once you've had a drink your best intentions can easily go out of the window. Will power is a forgotten friend after three pints of cider.

One good suggestion is to lay off the booze until you've broken the back of those tricky first three weeks. However, if you are a fan of a few drinks, there is good news on the horizon. A night on the booze without cigarettes is a whole different ball game, not only do you have more hands free for holding more drinks (bonus) but you will also wake up the next morning feeling comparatively fresh as a daisy!

Will I miss them forever?

There is nothing more scary to a smoker than hearing an ex-smoker say that after several years they still miss it. It's hardly inspiration for quitting. When I used to be told this it genuinely frightened me. Would I miss cigarettes forever? What a life sentence. The truth of the matter is that I do still get pangs for a cigarette and occasionally think it'd be nice to have one, but it's different.

It's not with the yearning you have when you are a fully immersed smoker. It's more like fond memories of an ex-boyfriend. You might reminisce through rose-tinted spectacles and perhaps contemplate how it would be nice to be with them again but in your heart of hearts you know the relationship didn't work out for a reason.

The act of quitting

The best advice I can give you is purely what worked for me. I made a decision and stuck to it. I decided I wasn't going to smoke another cigarette in my life, ever. No ifs no buts, no mitigating circumstances. That was it. If you can make a decision like this, it takes away the painful indecision of 'shall I have one, shall I not?'

Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months and months turned into years. Apparently, in 15 years time I will have undone all the damage I did my body by smoking for 12 years. To be honest though, this wasn't even my reason for quitting. I'd simply had enough; enough of the bind of being a smoker.

Quitting smoking is huge. It will change your life. The niggling voice at the back of your head, telling you that one day you must quit, is gone. You don't have to check your pockets for cigarettes and a lighter, or panic when you're heading away from town. This is one of the greatest joys, in giving up smoking. You become free.