When your loved ones are trying to stop smoking, it is very important to help them stay motivated. Trying to get rid of a smoking addiction is definitely not a walk in the park, but having moral support would certainly ease the struggle.

There are many things that you can do. Support should of course be unconditional, but it’s also pratical to find out what is worth doing. You could achieve this by finding out what is the root cause of the smoking problem (questioning and observing) and move on from there.

For instance, if the trouble lies with the famous hand-to-mouth syndrome, try carrot or celery sticks as substitutes for cigarettes. They’re healthy and they keep both hand and mouth busy. If the recovering smokers find the vegetable sticks too bland, try seasoning them with some Italian herbs and a dash of salt. You could also make delicious low-fat dips (recipes are widely available on the Internet) for the sticks.

My partner felt that he’s more tired and sleepy when he’s quitting. So I took him to the gym. Exercise definitely made him felt more energetic and his perceived dependence on cigarettes also lessened. It’s important not to give in to the couch and tv at home during these times as at this point, the recovering smokers need strong, reliable characters around to support him. I also served him coffee to jumpstart the morning and bought him individually packed instant coffee which he kept by his side all the time. This way, he could have his coffee at anytime he felt like a puff.

Another effective way is to keep the recovering smokers busy so that they’re not pre-occupied with the idea of smoking. Do organise activities, preferably ones that take place in non-smoking area. Take this opportunity to revive activities such as picnic in the park, volunteering at a charity homes, sight-seeing in your own city and so on. Besides assisting recovering smokers to cope, it would also improve your relationship with each other!

Remember, you must be supportive not just with words but with actions as well. By helping your loved ones, you’re helping yourself too.