Here’s a question that can get under the skin of any smoker: “Why don’t you just quit?” Or how about, “Why do you smoke?”  These accusing tones are often heard from non-smokers who want to help, but who are more annoyingly righteous in their abstinence than anything else. Blank statements of the obvious don’t do much for motivation either: “You know that’s bad for you. It smells. It turns your teeth yellow. It kills you.”

Just about any smoker will tell you that, yes, they know all that (How could they not?).

Often the information is put out simply to help someone stop, but what winds up happening is the nagging pleas of friends and family become a source of contention, and many smokers will keep on smoking just to spite the people who are desperate for them to quit. It’s a catch-22.

So what to do? Maybe understanding some of the steps needed to quit will help you help someone drop the habit. This is a short list of advice meant to assist a smoker with quitting:

Step #1 – Be ready to commit. Throw out your cigarettes. Don’t smoke anything at all, not even a quick little drag.

Step #2 – Let your friends know. Explain to them that you might be irritable in the coming days, and that it is a result of your quitting. Don’t be afraid to lean on them for support or to ask them to smoke elsewhere.

Step #3 – Find something to do – Idleness breads bad behavior. When you get the urge, breathe deep and slow and try to move your focus on to something else. Drink coffee if you need to instead.

Step #4 – Use supplements intended to help. Nicotine chewing gum or patches are great for assisting you in breaking the ritual. They can deliver nicotine while you find other things to occupy your time, and they will slowly wean you off the need.

Step #5 – Don’t search for reasons to keep you smoking. Be aware that there might be things that will trigger a relapse, and try to avoid them. Not being around other smokers will often help, as will not drinking alcohol for sometime.

Quitting smoking is not easy. Knowing a few things about how to quit, or how to help someone quit definitely makes it easier. Remember though, don’t be a nag. Consider the other person’s feelings, the change in lifestyle they will experience and how much they will need to be in control of their own decisions.

For more in-depth info on quitting, click here.