Are you wondering how to help someone quit smoking? Perhaps you are looking for some new things to try to help this person stay away from this bad habit. Maybe you need some advice on where to even get started right now.
In this article, you will learn five ideas on how to help someone quit smoking. It could be a loved one or a complete stranger. Hopefully, one day, smoking will no longer be addictive, but since it is, consider trying to help anyone NOT develop this bad habit.
We will soon look at the disadvantages of smoking as one strategy to get someone to not smoke, along with hearing the testimony of a first-hand smoker. Additionally, we’ll talk about stop smoking resources, alternatives to smoking, and how to support and encourage smokers.
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How to Help Someone Quit Smoking (5 Ideas)
If you are looking for how to help someone quit smoking, here are five ideas you can try. They are ideas that can truly be helpful to stop this bad habit and start them on a path of living without smoking.
Idea #1 – Talk about the disadvantages of smoking.
While there is probably not an exhaustive list of smoking disadvantages online, I am sure you can find something pretty darn close! Explain the short-term disadvantages, like the cost of smoking and other statistics. Then, tell of the longer-term perils, like the cost to your health.
Make them a good list to show them all the reasons they should stop this horrible habit. It really no longer makes you “look cool” or is advertised on television. Therefore, many of the “old-school” reasons to smoke are just not there. So, why are they continuing this habit?
I’ll be perfectly gross and honest with you. When I was a smoker, smoking helped my digestive system work right. However, if that was the excuse you got when you tried to help someone quit smoking, consider the many substitutes (vitamins, minerals, laxatives) available.
In other words, it’s a smart idea to have a rebuttal if they do try to explain the many reasons that they decided to start this habit or continue it. Explain how their reason can easily be substituted, for example. It might take some planning ahead to have this conversation successfully.
“All the suffering, stress, and addiction come from not realizing you already are what you are looking for.” –Jon Kabat-Zinn
Idea #2 – Find a person who can explain the perils of smoking from first-hand experience.
This person does not have to be someone who continues to smoke today. However, if you have someone who is an addict, this person can speak of their experiences. It’s so important for addicts like smokers to tell their story, not because of their pride, but because it helps others.
Hearing a story of someone who has been through the same road as you or a similar one can motivate you, encourage you, and impress you to be more like them. You’ll get to hear that it is possible to overcome temptation and stop this bad habit. Instead, turn to elevating options.
So, if you want to help someone quit smoking, find a former smoker. This might be someone who used to smoke or someone who cannot smoke any longer due to health problems that came about because of smoking. A “witness” to the disadvantages can be very helpful.
Before you introduce a former smoker to the person you are trying to help, you might tell your friend a brief synopsis of how to listen well or how to improve their listening skills so that they get the most out of the experience. You don’t have to be derogatory about it; just be helpful.
For example, you could say something like, “I know you might not want to hear some of this, but try to have an open mind when it comes to listening to someone with experience in this area.” You might encourage them by saying, “This might be tough to listen to, but I’m proud of you.”
“It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.” –Tony Robbins
Idea #3 – Point them to the right resources.
There are literally too many resources to help someone quit smoking to list in this article. I will name a few, but do a little research, and you might discover some local resources not even listed here. Additionally, most resources to stop smoking that are found online are free.
Call Someone for Help.
One of the first resources they might want to explore is talk therapy, such as a hotline. This is where someone is available to talk with the person who wants to quit smoking. They might just chat or provide quit-smoking resources. Additionally, many hotlines offer free resources!
Talk to a Doctor.
Another great option that can help someone quit smoking is their regular doctor. They can provide the individual with medication that can help them quit smoking. They may also know about local support groups that meet or other resources, and where to find them.
“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” -Mark Twain
Try an OTC Treatment Option.
Additionally, there are many Over-the-Counter (OTC) treatment options or resources to help someone quit smoking. Many pharmacies carry things like gum, patches, or even things that help to keep their hands busy and away from the smoking devices they long for.
Check out fidgeting toys on Amazon for more fun ways to keep your hands busy without the use of a smoking device. My favorite fidget toy is a Pop-It fidget toy. They are great for keeping not only your hands busy, but also your eyes and brain!
This fidgeting toy is actually a fidgeting game! It’s a bit more aimed at kids, but how cute and small is it? It’s the perfect size for your purse, and it lights up when you play the game. If you’re a girly girl like me, you’ll enjoy the pink color and unicorn game design!
My final choice for a fidgeting toy would be this Handheld Memory Game. It is perfect for keeping your hands occupied, whether you are an adult trying to quit smoking or a child wanting to have fun. The light-up features and the brain-challenging aspects are just bonuses.
Always have the person who wants to quit smoking talk to their doctor before they try an OTC option. The reason for this is that nicotine, for example, can interact with many prescription medications, as well as eliminate the need for some or cause the need for others.
“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.” -Zig Ziglar
Go to a Support Group’s Meeting.
There are many programs that combine different types of therapies to help people quit smoking. Additionally, there are support groups, as mentioned before, such as Celebrate Recovery. Even just going to another recovery group, like AA, can be beneficial in learning how to quit a vice.
It might sound a bit strange to go to a support group for people addicted to alcohol, but when your “addiction” is not a common program, you will find that they have much to offer. After all, like smokers, people in AA are struggling with an addictive substance and ways to quit.
When I told you my testimony, you might remember that I was addicted to the opposite sex at the time, or you could call me a “love addict!” I did go to AA meetings and found the experience very rewarding, as I learned how a support group worked and how to get serious about quitting.
“The surest way not to fail is to determine to succeed.” – Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Idea #4 – Encourage them to start a new hobby.
One of the best ways for me to stop a bad habit is to fill my time with something else. This would normally need to be equally engaging to hold my attention, but the strategy works like a charm. A new hobby is perfect for this because it engages both your body and your mind.
Here are some ideas:
- Take them to an art class.
- Encourage them to rescue a pet at an animal shelter.
- Start a big puzzle together. (Hint: Try it upside down first for a real challenge!)
- Talk about any big goals or resolutions they might have.
- Enjoy a television or movie series together.
- Go to the movies, an amusement park, or a bowling alley.
- Find a fixer-upper vehicle that you can work on together.
- Encourage them to start volunteer work.
- Buy them a Getting Started Crocheting Kit.
- Teach them to grill or the art of drinking coffee.
- Get them to a gym for kickboxing or another sport.
- Purchase them a retreat, a spa weekend, or a new project that might be fun.
- Share whatever your passion is with them to encourage them to see personal growth.
“Believe you can, and you’re halfway there.” -Theodore Roosevelt
Idea #5 – Support and encourage them every step of the way.
This is probably one of the most important things you can do to help someone quit smoking. Be there. When they need an accountability partner, allow them access to your shoulder. If they need to dish out the reasons they want to smoke right now, be there to listen to them.
Being supportive can be time-consuming. If you are not the right person for the job, consider helping them find a sponsor or accountability partner who quit smoking, also. That way, they can relate to one another better. The fact that you are making such an effort is endearing!
If you do decide to be a supportive partner to help this person quit smoking, help them remove all temptations from their home, workplace, and vehicle(s), if possible. Getting those things out of the way will help them when they feel their weakest.
Come up with strategies that work from experience. If they seem to forget about their urge to smoke when you make them laugh, have some comic relief at your fingertips. If they need to be reminded of the disadvantages, have a list ready to go over when they call.
“There is no such thing in anyone’s life as an unimportant day.” – Alexander Woollcott
Conclusion
We’ve now covered five ideas to get you started in helping someone quit smoking. Which will you try first? Do you think it will work with this individual? We’d love to hear all about your experience! You are welcome to contact us or leave a comment below! Thank you!
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Aristotle
