Having a motivation, even minor, helps a lot.

For me, it was the requirement to be nicotine free for a few months around a surgery.

I went the patch route and it was a somewhat difficult 3 months, but it has been a blessing not have to clear-out my through every morning or anxiously anticipating stuff like a long flight or train ride.

I also got the "oh shit, I relapsed" dreams for about a year after I quit.