If you want to stop smoking, making a plan to quit is the most important step in the process. But before you actually make your plan, you need to figure out how ready you are.

One of the most respected smoking-cessation researchers is James Prochaska, Director of the Cancer Prevention Research Center at the University of Rhode Island. He has spent his career doing research on how people successfully change lifestyle behavior, and he has found that there are six stages of successful lifestyle change. They are:

• Pre-contemplation
• Contemplation
• Preparation
• Action
• Maintenance
• Termination

Dr. Prochaska's work is inspiring since he has figured out how to match the stage you are at (contemplation) to the smoking-cessation approach. In fact, Dr. Prochaska understands that change doesn't happen all of a sudden. You don't wake up one morning and suddenly decide to stop smoking and succeed at it. It takes time, some thinking, more time, and then more thinking. That is what Prochaska calls 'contemplation.'

You might feel that this stage is a waste of time, but is it one of the most important ways to start. In this stage, you think about the pros and cons of quitting and you consider if this is the best time in your life to attempt this. (For example, if one of your parents is terminally ill, you might actually be better off postponing this challenge until your life is more predictable.) If in fact this does feel like a good time to quit, you also need to consider the obstacles at this stage (such as a partner who smokes) and figure out how to get around those obstacles (like making your spouse smoke outside).

Preparing to stop smoking is like preparing for childbirth: There is an unbelievably fabulous outcome, but you need to be ready for the battle. So don't undervalue the contemplation stage: It's important if you are going to be successful in your efforts to quit.