When Should I Try to Stop Vaping?
This is a difficult question because (cue trumpets and gasping for this unbelievable bit of info) — everyone is different!
Yeah, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer here.
You should stop vaping when a) you’re not enjoying it anymore, and b) you feel it in your bones that you won’t light up a cigarette because you don’t have access to your vape.
Here’s a few telltale signs that you’re ready to kiss vaping goodbye:
·you can go all day without thinking about your vape (or cigarettes),
·social situations (that include drinking) are easy and you have zero cravings,
·you’re already used to vaping on no nicotine vape juices,
·your cart pen is no longer the first thing you pick up in the morning,
·you’ve started feeling like vaping is an expense you no longer need.
Now… the most important thing on this list is that you have zero nicotine cravings once you decide to quit vaping. Because if you do, you’ll end up back on vapes. Or worse…
So make sure you’ve got that down pat before continuing with this.
And if you’re actually ready, here are some quit vaping tips that you’ll want to keep top of mind as you go through the process.
10 Tips That Will Help You Quit Vaping
Get Clear On Why You Vape In the First Place
Even though it is quite obvious to you, still ask yourself this question: “Why I vape?”
I talked to a lot of people and some reasons might shock you.
We always talk about vaping as a primary alternative to smoking, but do you know how many people never smoked cigarettes but still vape?
The reason why I’m telling you this is to help you get real with yourself. Imagine realizing that you are vaping just because, well you do… You don’t need nicotine but you vape simply as a habit.
Once you are on the same level with that reasoning you can start your journey.
Find Something Big That Will Motivate You to Quit Vaping
Getting rid of any habit is a challenge and kudos to you even if you are at the beginning.
Accept your wins even if they are small ones, one day without smoking should be a huge deal at the start. Two days, a week, a month… You get it.
Don’t belittle your victories just because you know someone who stopped vaping years ago and made it look easy (trust me, it wasn’t).
Comparison is a killer of joy. Remember that. You do you and keep grinding.
People talk a lot about motivation and what made them quit.
Feel free to use a similar principle, but keep in mind that at some point (in some dark place) your motivation will be tested. Be sure to have a strong connection to the thing that motivates you. To some, saving money is enough, on the other hand, health is the most common motivator. Find yours and do your best to keep it going.
And one more thing; discipline trumps motivation any day. So, steel your mind as soon as possible. It will help a lot.
Set a Tangible Goal (Your Quit Date)
It’s easier to work towards something than to feel like you are working with an indefinite task.
Don’t make a Sisyphus out of yourself. Give yourself a “quit date”, a day in the future that will be your goal. “By that time I will quit vaping, period.”
Now, before you pick a date be real with yourself. No one knows you better than you do.
Calculate everything in, even the possibility of relapse at some point. I know it will be tough, and so do you.
But, picking a date means that you are serious about it. The decision you made to quit did not come on a whim, and as such, it won’t go away just like that.
Find Your Go-To Substitute To Vaping
The best way to start thinking about finding the right substitution for vaping is to realize in which situations you vape the most.
Is it while you work, or while you are getting drinks with your friends? All this plays a huge role in your plan to quit vaping.
Ask yourself, how well do you manage stress and do you use vaping as your coping mechanism?
It’s a well-known fact that people turn towards nicotine (all sources) while in stressful situations because it soothes them down.
Funny story; I remember when my mom decided to quit smoking. It was a long time ago when vaping wasn’t the option. She would buy salted sticks (a lot of them) and carry a pack or two with her every day she went out. The best part is, it really helped her. After that, she didn’t light a cigarette, ever again.
Build Your Support Network
When it comes to getting rid of bad habits people are really supportive.
I have yet to meet a person that forced someone to keep smoking. Ludicrous, I know…
But, jokes aside… The best thing you can do is to surround yourself with positive and super supportive people. I believe this won’t be a hard task for you because anyone who cares for you will be more than happy to be a part of your journey towards a healthier life.
Of course, the more people you have around you the easier it will be, but…
There will be moments when you will be ready to give up, and that is totally fine. We are not machines and sometimes things don’t work out the way we want them to. In those moments it’s good to have someone really close (husband, wife, best friend, etc…) that will help you push it through.
Start Moving Towards Zero Nic Before Quitting Cold Turkey
Now that we covered mental games and decision-making parts, let’s get down to “substances” and our body.
If you are currently smoking and wish to quit via vaping the best advice I can give you is to be structural. Start out with high nicotine levels, similar to regular cigarettes.
Once you get used to vaping, start to gradually reduce nicotine levels. The plan sounds simple yet, it can backfire if you’re reducing nicotine levels too fast.
So, to paint the picture here; people tend to have relapses because they cut nicotine suddenly. From a pack a day they switch to zero nicotine at all.
Why is that bad?
Well, you will only shock your metabolism and the body will notice the absence of nicotine creating really strong cravings. The worst scenario would be to go back to cigarettes instead of vaping.
The trick with this one is to lower nicotine consumption but not so low to alert your body.
As you take less nicotine, your body will adapt and function with that dosage. As time passes by, if you keep doing this properly, your body will learn to “work” without nicotine.
Choose Vape Juice Flavors You DON’T Like
Storytime!
This happened to me, maybe a year or so ago. I was changing flavors, trying out new ones. As I’m a gamer of sorts so flavors with names like “Mana Potion”, “Vigor” and such caught my eye immediately.
Well, I bought myself the “Healing Potion”. It was a mix of lime, apple and menthol. One more thing, it was green as hell… Proper fluorescent green… Now that I think about it, what was I thinking?
So, I mixed it with my base, let it sit for a bit and gave it a go. The amount of menthol that was inside of it at first didn’t bother me that much. But, after a week or so… Man… The cough after every hit was awful. First I was like, maybe I mixed it wrong or maybe my setup was poorly made. After changing cotton a few times I realized… The flavour was trash.
To be completely honest with you, I was pissed because I wasted my money… But only if I don’t vape it. In order to feel better (making it even worse), I continued to vape that stuff for a week or so… After that week, I didn’t want to get anywhere near a vaporizer for a whole month.
Moral of the story; if you want to quit, choose flavors that won’t give you as much pleasure and will make you think “do I really want to vape right now”
My advice, menthol… When it becomes unappealing to smell, feel and taste like your lungs and throat are continuously on top of some mountain peak you will be on the right track.
It might not make you stop vaping altogether but you will consume less juice throughout the day meaning you’ll ingest less nicotine.
Up Your Distractions Game
Distraction can sometimes be categorized as a substitution but I don’t think so.
Using some means to distract yourself from thinking about smoking or vaping does not mean you will be using that same principle every time you want nicotine.
To put it simply, distraction is something that you use occasionally, substitution is a more permanent and stable decision.
That’s why you can use some “cake and cookie” distraction but try to not overdo it. It is common knowledge that people tend to put a few kilos/pounds of body weight when they stop smoking or vaping.
But don’t get alarmed, that is perfectly fine unless you switch from one addiction to the other.
My best advice would be to focus more on “exercise and spending more time playing sports” distractions. While you are out of breath playing basketball I am pretty sure you won’t need your vaporizer. Right?
Another thing you can do, and it’s not as specific as playing sports… a hobby; most of us have an “empty fingers” feeling when we are not vaping. So to overcome that find something that will occupy your hands as well as your mind.
Steel Up For Withdrawals (If You’re Not Off Nicotine Just Yet)
It’s inevitable. Sooner or later, nicotine withdrawal will hit you.
Unfortunately, it’s not something you can avoid but you can be ready for it.
If you follow everything I told you to this point you will handle it perfectly.
One thing you need to keep telling yourself is that it will pass. No matter how hard it is.
Two things you need to do are to stay calm and collected. Your body is battling and you need to help it as much as you can.
If you never experienced something like this, I will lay down some symptoms that will help you identify withdrawal. I must note that all these symptoms might not happen to you, but just in case.
1.Headaches
2.Irritability and restlessness
3.Nicotine cravings
4.Increased appetite
5.Anxiety, depression, and mood swings
6.Tremors
7.Trouble concentrating
8.Difficulty sleeping
Arm Yourself With Patience
… because it’s a virtue, many would say. And they are correct.
To quit something you’ve been doing for years is a process that will take some time. You can’t expect to be all good and well in a day.
I have no doubt in my mind that you are ready to start your journey, but what I want you to do is be real with yourself and set an achievable goal.
Realize that it won’t be a walk in the park and that there will be days when you think you can’t hold on. But, keep moving forward.
Small setbacks (even if they happen) can’t outweigh your resolve.
That’s it! That’s all I have for you today. If you try to quit vaping, you succeed, and you’re happy — please comment here so that others can be inspired by your example!