The biggest challenge for smokers is to quit smoking. As it is an addiction, it takes a lot of time, effort and willingness for a smoker to abandon this vice. Often, many smokers don’t and can’t just abstain from it on their own. Their families, friends and spouses have a huge role in supporting and helping them leave it off. 

Do you have someone in your life who smokes cigarettes? It could be your best friend, your cousin, your parents, your husband or wife. Whoever it is, you can do something to aid them in their journey of quitting it. 

Of course, you have to see first where they stand: Are they the ones who opened up about wanting to quit it? Or is it you who wants to personally encourage them to do so? 

Keep in mind that the help you are lending is for them and not just for yourself who unfortunately sniffs the smoke from their cigarettes. While you care for them, you don’t want to be too hard and harsh on them. Since you are aware that it’s not easy for these smokers, you at least want to make it a worthwhile journey for them as they cease smoking. 

One of the most wholesome and enjoyable ways to support your smoker loved ones to quit smoking is to organize and do smoke-free activities with them! These can truly make for a productive time without cigarettes on their hands! Check out this list of 10 smoke-free activities that will give you a nice and meaningful time!

1 – Plan a video game night.

Bring on the excitement and fun with a video game night that gets the gadgets set! 

A modern-day kind of bonding between friends is spending a whole night playing video games! It could be done while you are separated from each other or while together. The latter is better though so you can see whether or not they have a cigarette beside their PC, but even when apart, you can see to it that they are busy on the game. It’s an effective distraction that keeps them focused on the game instead of doing what they must resist. 

2 – Cook together.

Cooking is a very productive time to spend with your loved ones. As the process requires utmost cleanliness and sanitation, there’s no room for toxic elements. 

When you cook together, the concentration is on accomplishing the dish you are making. This helps alleviate stress. It teaches a lot about teamwork and discipline. For oneself, it deters negative thoughts and enhances self-esteem. Furthermore, the challenging process of cooking is a good tool that can aid your smoker loved ones to believe more in themselves that they can succeed in their goal of quitting smoking.

Have the kitchen filled with the beautiful aroma of delights! The fragrance of the mouth-watering food is the reason for the cravings and not anything else!

3 – Make clay flower pots.

Let there be a combination of creativity and tranquility on any day! Get the hands working on forming pots!

Making clay flower pots is very interesting and impressive. Its calming attributes are unmatched. You can stay quiet or talk about significant topics while shaping your pots. This keeps one’s mind engaged in the soothing activity and hands busy on the art of clay pottery. Of course, the finished products give a sense of pride and satisfaction.

4 – Watch funny TV shows.

As the old saying goes, laughter is the best medicine. 

Watching funny TV shows is a simple yet effective way to shoo worries away. It can positively affect mental and emotional health, boosting good mood and vibes.

It’s always a valuable time to enjoy a funny TV show with your loved ones. Giggles and laughter heard all over the place are precious! They help mitigate tension. Definitely, these TV shows are worth-watching as they are not just for laughs but for better health too.

5 – Go to an event where smoking is prohibited.

A live basketball game. A musical concert. A museum launch. These are just some of the occasions where smoking is strictly not allowed. 

These events’ locations are usually enclosed. Formal gatherings prohibit smoking. Better, go to a health-focused or an environment-advocating fair that will make your loved one appreciate life even more.

6 – Exercise. 

Get your bodies coordinating and active! Exercising with a buddy is efficacious for a more blissful and motivating time. This is beneficial especially if your loved one is lazy to work out and is spending most of their time unhealthfully. 

You can encourage and inspire him/her with an invitation to go to gym or to enroll in a fitness class together. It’s a useful time to meet more people with the same interest of becoming physically fit and healthy. That provides more reasons to get up and sweat off!

Cigarette cravings can be lessened by exercising. As the smokers might gain weight upon halting smoking, working out can assist in restricting the additional weight. Keeping the body lively reduces risks of cancers and heart ailments. Smokers can improve their bodies and work out for their own restoration.

7 – Paint.

An artistic hobby that your loved ones will enjoy even on their own solo time is painting.

Stress and anxiety might be experienced by smokers who immediately try to quit smoking. An emotional and mental avenue like painting is a great way to relax and rejuvenate.

Painting can foster creative development. It nurtures one’s self-growth and optimistic viewpoint. It is a healing activity that promotes sensitivity towards what triggers certain emotions which might be felt during the process of laying off smoking.

8 – Eat ice cream.

Ice cream is not just delectable but also energizing! Eating ice cream is advantageous for better respiratory health. It also augments the feel-good hormones in the body!

9 – Have a karaoke night.

Schedule a karaoke night with the squad! It could be indoors, in your own abode, or outdoors, in a rented place.

The immune system is revitalized when singing. It is also an outstanding technique to exercise the lungs. For the mental and emotional state, singing sends happy and amping up vibes. It minimizes stress chemicals in the body. 

10 – Make homemade scented candles.

Not only creative but also fruitful is the process of creating homemade candles.

Instead of the cigarette’s unhealthy smoke being inhaled, smokers can pay more attention and admiration to the sweet-smelling scented candles made with lots of love and effort.

Candle making is therapeutic and uplifting. It is a peerless way to bond with family and friends. It is educational and very fulfilling. The environment is often cared for when making candles, so this activity certainly molds oneself to become more aware of what’s good for the health and the world.

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HELP THEM QUIT!

Quitting smoking is a change of lifestyle for smokers. It can result in them getting stressed and tempted to actually bring out a cigarette which is what the journey of ending their smoking wants to avoid. Even a vape with eliquid can be their resort; though it’s different, still, there are bad effects and the smoking habit remains. 

To help them relieve stress, let them engage in other activities that will never need a cigarette. When their minds and bodies are busy on something else but smoking, they can de-stress and be motivated on other things.

As a loved one, know that quitting smoking does not happen overnight for these smokers. Be there for them. Remind and aid them. Enjoy more healthful things with them as if it’s not about quitting smoking but just living life in a better way. Let them feel that you are there to support them as they kick smoking out of their system. And don’t forget to celebrate their smoke-free days! Even a single day could be a great achievement for them, so show that it’s appreciated and that they are doing what’s right for themselves.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nicole Ann Pore is a writer, an events host and a voice over artist. She finds quality and well-researched writing as a worthwhile avenue to enlighten and delight others about things that matter. For her, it’s restoring and fulfilling to the heart and a great way to clear the mind while loading it up with fresh learning. Film critiquing and filmmaking are among her interests too. Giving all the glory to God, Nicole graduated Cum Laude from De La Salle University Manila, Philippines with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Arts.
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