If you’ve taken steps to go smoke free, you’re probably enjoying the positive changes it has made to your life. When you’re feeling good, it’s natural to want others to feel good too, and so you might want to help friends and family who smoke quit too.
The journey of quitting smoking is personal and unique to every individual who quits, so it might not be as simple as just telling others to quit. You may have friends and family who smoke and aren’t ready to quit, or they might be aware they need to quit but are hesitant because of past attempts.
It’s important to be sensitive to the feelings of others. But that doesn’t mean you can’t support them to quit. Here are a few ways you can support a friend to quit, showing you care but that you’re sensitive to their situation.
- Talk openly about smoking and be honest about your own quit attempt.
- Ask if they want to quit and what they think they need to do to get to that point.
- Ask if they’d like to know about what helped you – some people find this helpful, others don’t, so don’t be offended if they don’t!
- Ask them if there’s anything you can do to help them quit.
- Tell them you know they can quit smoking for good, even if they’ve tried to quit before.
- If they react negatively to talk of quitting smoking, don’t push it. Some people aren’t ready to quit and need time to figure it out for themselves.
- If they do want to quit, let them know that you’re there for them, even if all they need is a friendly ear.
- Ask if they’d like practical support, and volunteer to help them take the next step.
- Compliment them for every small milestone reached.
- Check in on them from time to time. Just a small text to ask how they’re doing can mean a lot.
- Do things together. Quitting smoking is a lot easier if you take your mind off smoking, so go for a walk together or do something else you’d both enjoy, like going to the cinema. Avoid places where others will be smoking.
- Don’t treat them like a naughty child! If they slip up, don’t tell them off or act disappointed. Let them know it’s fine to try again and support them to do so.
When they’re ready, remember we’re here to help them quit for good. It’s quick and easy to sign up – just click here, or text QUIT to 80011.
