Top 10 Tips to Help Family & Friends Quit

If there is a smoker in your life who you want to help quit smoking, you can play an important role in supporting their quit. But remember that quitting is a personal choice and you cannot make this person quit. A person will only quit when he or she is ready. The best thing that you can do is be there to provide non-judgmental support and help as they struggle to become tobacco-free.

Helping someone through this process is not easy, so here are 10 tips to help them on their quit journey:

1. Ask how you can help. Quitting smoking is a personal decision. Don’t assume that you know the right things to do.
2. Be supportive. Let them know that they can call you whenever necessary - especially in a crisis.
3. Help change their routines. Spend time with them doing things to keep their minds off smoking or suggest starting an exercise routine together.
4. Avoid nagging at all costs. Don’t judge, preach or scold either. This could make them feel worse or increase their stress level – a major trigger for smoking. Do say: How’s your day going? Don’t say: Did you smoke today?
5. Offer practical support. Help with daily chores, like cooking dinner, cleaning or babysitting will help lighten the stress of quitting.
6. Cut them some slack and allow for bad moods. Quitting smoking is a difficult thing to do, and feelings of anger and irritability can be normal withdrawal symptoms – but temporary. So don't take their behaviours personally and allow them some extra slack, especially during the first few weeks of their quit.
7. Respect their wishes. If they want to be left alone, so be it. If they want your encouragement and support, be there.
8. Be understanding if they have a slip. Understand that smoking is a powerful addiction and it may take several attempts before they quit for good. Quitting is a process, and each quit attempt a learning experience.
9. Celebrate their successes! Quitting smoking is a BIG DEAL! Plan something special to mark their significant tobacco-free milestones, such as the first tobacco-free week, the first month, and the third month.
10. Remind them why they wanted to quit in the first place. Reinforce the benefits of their being tobacco-free, and encourage them to reward themselves with savings from not smoking.

Tidbits about Quitting

• Relapse is common.
• For many people it can take more than one try. The first two weeks are usually the hardest.
• Some of the most common reasons for people going back to smoking include strong negative emotions, being around other smokers and drinking alcohol.