Nagging people about smoking rarely has the intended effect

If you want to encourage somebody to give up smoking there are some sensible ways to go about it. You should also know that certain well meaning attempts to get people to stop smoking can actually have the opposite effect and make them dig their heels in harder.

Nagging people about smoking rarely has the intended effect. If you want to encourage somebody to quit smoking it is important to concentrate on the positive effects that quitting smoking can have as opposed to the negative implications of continuing to smoke. For example talk about the fact that people feel so much more healthy and have much more energy when they quit smoking. Mention that people who quit smoking get better skin and look younger and healthier. You want to give them the idea that they are not actually giving up anything but they are in fact getting something good when they quit smoking.

It is important that people come to the decision to quit smoking by themselves and that they are not being pressurised into it by nagging friends and relatives. The first question that you should always ask yourself before you start to quit is “do you really want to quit smoking”? If there is not a really strong desire to quit smoking than the liklihood is you are going to chuck in the towel at the first hurdle.

If somebody you know fails in their attempt to quit smoking do not nag them but wish them luck in their next attempt to quit smoking and possibly remark how well they looked when they had quit and how you really believe that they can do it. People respond much better to encouragement than they do to negative comments.

The support of family and friends can be instrumental to quitting smoking and the people who care about you will help you if you ask them.