Stop Smoke

We all know that smoking is a dangerous vice and yet, almost one in four adults worldwide are smokers. While governments strive to take measures for tobacco control and inform the population about the risks it is facing, quitting smoking is not easy, especially if one continues to socialize with other smokers on a daily basis.

It takes willpower above anything else to quit the vice for good, but applications dedicated to encouraging you and increasing your determination are welcomed as well. While there are surely apps for mobile devices you can carry around, note that your desktop computer can also host an app to aid you in going out for a smoke less often than you are tempted to. One of them is Stop Smoke, a tiny and open-source software utility that can help you increase auto-control when it comes to enjoying a cigarette.

First of all, it is worth noting that Stop Smoke is a portable application, as there is no need to install it on your computer. Just double-click on the main executable file to launch it.

The interface is extremely simple, plain and rather boring, in fact, but that matters less since the application’s purpose is to help you reduce smoking frequency more than pleasing your eyesight.

At first launch, you are prompted to set the waiting time between two consecutive smoking sessions, in minutes. You can use this screen to set time intervals that are larger and larger each day. Just start with a realistic time interval and promise yourself that you will respect it, then add 5 minutes a day to the initial time interval, for instance, to get you to smoke rarely. When the time comes to smoke, you must hit the “Smoke” button and a new time interval begins.

This application is basic, it merely includes a form and a countdown timer that lets you know when it is time to smoke again. You don’t even get suggestions on time intervals, not to mention encouraging messages, which would be welcomed when trying to quit smoking.

There are no restrictions, and you can change the time interval any time you want. While this might help you not feel pressured, it also tests your willpower to respect your promise to yourself.