The best idea is actually to don't start with the cigarettes, cause once you started - you are on the hook and it is not an easy to stop. I feel your pain, it took me around two years in total to quit smoking . I tried stopping couple of times with different breathing and meditation techniques but it didn't work on me. Nicotine patches and salts was a solution for me at the end. I am smoke free for more than 5 years now.