When it comes to making lifestyle changes in family households, I’ve always said that it’s better to all be in it together.

Have you ever faced that situation, when you’re drooling over the tasty meal that you’re serving up for somebody else, only to have to also serve up a much less appealing meal for yourself because of the ‘diet’ you’re on. It’s a great test of your willpower, but you couldn’t say it’s unfair, because everybody else can eat what they like.

It’s the same with smoking. How can you expect to successfully quit smoking the first time around when your partner is puffing away on a cigarette next to you without a care in the world. I can imagine the temptation of the smell and sight of a cigarette within touching distance, screaming your name.

This is why it is far better to agree to do things together, since we often adopt the same habits and lifestyles of the people we live with, and give in to temptation too easily.

Research of smokers trying to quit tells us what we already know, that we’re less likely to quit if our partner is still smoking, whereas we’re more likely to quit if our partner no longer smokes.

We could probably assume these circumstances for many other changes that we have trouble sticking to, like changing our diet, or becoming more active.

The conclusion is simple, it’s time to stop climbing mountains on our own.

Couples who smoke together need to quit together.

Faye Prior (Researcher)

Source

Cobb et al., (2014). The association of spousal smoking status with the ability to quit smoking. American Journal of Epidemiology, 179(10), 1182-87.