It’s fun and nice to have people you can count on anytime, even if they are neither your sisters nor brothers by blood. Amazingly, there are strangers-turned-friends you meet in life with whom you get along well and get used to being with. Your peers and squads are among your cherished earthlings, and they definitely can influence you in many ways.
Make sure that the impact you obtain from them is something beneficial. If it is not, you have to do something. What you must always keep in mind is that you DON’T NEED to agree to everything they do and prefer JUST BECAUSE you’re friends. Especially if it’s something dangerous, know how to say NO.
Know more: 5 Visual Signs That You Are a healthy Person
When health is the subject, though everybody actually knows what the musts are, different people still have different takes on what they choose to live their lives with.
Some are in love with keeping themselves healthy while some are not very much into it. Some are sensitive about taking care of their well-being while some are not really so.
The topic here is about friendships and one of the things which friends disagree with: SMOKING. Let’s not sugarcoat it anymore. Everyone knows that smoking is destructive to human health.
It is bad for the smokers and bad for those who inhale their cigarette smoke. It leads to life-long diseases and regrets. Smoking is detrimental and unfavorable.
All these are reasons why it is no longer a surprise that the presence of smokers and nonsmokers in one friendship troop is a big deal that causes misunderstandings. They have individual lifestyles and health priorities that oppose each other.
This article is aimed at helping nonsmokers who have friends who smoke around them. If you’re a nonsmoker, then you are reading the right piece! Don’t get anywhere else. Stay here up to the last word!
Here’s one thing that many nonsmokers who have smoker friends know in common. It’s annoying and bothersome when they smoke near you. You can just tell them off, right?
If you are long-time friends and very honest with each other, it’s not going to be a problem to just confront them that you hate what they love! But though it is that simple for some, it’s sometimes or most of the time difficult for others — maybe for you too.
The reason could be because you’re just new friends, maybe you don’t have a very close relationship, or you did call them out before, but it turned into an argument.
You might be hesitant because you don’t know how they will react if you tell them. Probably a past experience of getting into a fight with a smoker friend hampers you. Also, you are avoiding an awkward atmosphere.
But bear in mind that you don’t have to endure the smoke when you hate it! What’s more, secondhand smoke is perilous. Everytime a friend smokes around you and you can’t stand it, here are 5 non-awkward ways you can ask them to let them know you HATE it!
See more: Go For Ayurvedic Medication For Hypertension And Keep Your Heart healthy
Ways to Tell Friends that You Hate Smoking
1 – Tell them your health issues from the smell of smoke.
There’s a kind approach you can do to communicate how you don’t like the ugly smell of smoke. Tell them the health issues you have been experiencing due to it.
Explain to them how it causes your head to ache or your stomach to feel upset. Remind them of the time you felt nauseous in one of your get-togethers because somebody from the other table was smoking.
Let them know how your doctor prescribed that you veer away from places with unhealthy smoke because of your allergies. Be honest if you really have serious medical difficulties that need attention. It’s best that these smoker friends know, so they will be responsible too.
Talking about the timing, if you see that it’s fitting at the very moment your friend is smoking, then do that. It’s great timing if your friend is super kind and sensible enough to say, “Is it fine that I lit up my cigarette now?” There and then, inform them that you are not OK with it because of health problems you have been encountering from the odor of cigarette smoke.
2 – Tell them e-cigarettes smell better (but are still unhealthy).
Although you just really want your smoker friends to snuff out their cigarette, it can be a functional strategy to ask questions or show that you are curious of their disagreeable favorite. (Of course, you don’t have to frankly say that it’s disagreeable; that is just to emphasize that you are doing this for a good end.)
This will make your friend interested to converse with you about their hobby which they don’t know that you certainly dislike!
You can start with sharing how you were in the same public vehicle with this guy who’s using vape. Tell them you were really annoyed as the smoke spreads, but you noticed that it smells better than actual cigarettes.
Maybe you can ask them how eliquid in e-cigarettes are different. From there, your friends who might have a lot of knowledge about eliquid will share what they know since they have checked it out before. You can even ask whether or not they tried it. Asking does NOT equate to agreeing and trying the same!
Give your opinions and state facts! Remind them that you know how e-cigarettes seem less harmful than tobacco cigarettes but in truth, they are still unhealthy.
On top of that, there’s no medical proof yet that it’s a lot better than the latter. Come on, it’s a casual conversation with a friend, so it’s fine to mention those things.
3- Tell them you’ll just wait for them somewhere else.
Say you meet up with your friends for lunch. After the meal and while having a few conversations, one of them pulls out a lighter and a cigarette stick.
You know what he/she is up to. Though you would expect that for some people, it could seem acceptable because you are sitting outdoors, it is still not pleasant. As a nonsmoker, you will always disapprove of it.
It might be awkward for you to stop his/her hand from taking out those smoking apparatuses, and your friend will feel weird about you if you tell him/her to move away. What you can do is to adjust yourself for your own sake.
Tell your friends that you will wait for them somewhere else. If you’re not very comfortable with that, pretend you are picking up a call and have to be somewhere quieter.
Read more: Is Getting Health Insurance Worth It?
After briefly separating from them, send them a text message or a call to just meet somewhere else. These are ideal ways to escape the smokers’ den without making it awkward and very rude.
4 – With a smile, tell them to put it out.
If you don’t want to do it any other way aside from confronting them, then go do that but with a smile. That makes a difference.
Some of your smoker friends are insensitive even when they know that some chums in the group don’t smoke. Set an example of being a good friend by respectfully requesting them to put out their cigarettes while you are together. Tell them straightforwardly that you are feeling uncomfortable and unwell with it.
Don’t forget to be kind to avoid hurting their feelings as you say it. Make sure you do not sound and appear sarcastic as well. As much as possible, tell them privately to avoid making them feel humiliated and to prevent an instantly odd mood in the crew.
Know more: Improving Your smile with Cosmetic Dentistry
5 – Without a word, confidently cover your nose.
You can give your smoker friends a hint that you just hate the smell of smoke! Cover your nose. Do a fanning movement with your hand as you shoo the smoke away. Pull your shirt’s neckline up to your nose to hinder the odor from entering.
Don’t do these in secret because that will lead you to suffer more. Your smoker friends need to be enlightened. Do all these confidently and naturally as if you’re unaware that it’s your friend’s smoke that’s causing you annoyance.
Actions speak louder than words. Your smoker friends, if they are mindful and mature enough to know what those gestures mean, will know they need to stop smoking around you.
_____________
BE REAL. BE HEALTHY.
It’s a fact that if you are a true friend, you will be honest. Admitting how you hate when your friends smoke around you is one way. It’s just that in some instances, you might be reluctant to do so.
Bear in mind that you can do something! As much as you want your friendship to be fine, you can be real without being very offensive.
And don’t forget that you are doing this as you care for your smoker friends too. Smoking and its effects are deadly. Yes, you respect each other’s choices, but this vice is something that may bring devastating life problems. Encourage them to quit smoking.
Show and tell them that they must end it before it ends them. You can be real, be healthy and inspire your dear friends to do the same.
_____________
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.
Leave a comment