Quitting smoking is hard. Many smokers fail early on and fail several times too before they successfully manage to ditch the habit. Nicotine replacement products are one option, as is switching from smoking to vaping.
Of course, vaping isn’t for everyone and neither does making the change to vaping guarantee you’ll kick the habit. How can you make the transition from smoking to vaping?
Making the switch from smoking to vaping
The debate about whether e-cigs are successful in helping people quit smoking rages on. There is growing evidence that vaping is successful in luring people away from tobacco products. A 2019 survey found that smokers attempting to quit were twice as likely to be successful if they used an e-cig than just nicotine products such as gum alone.
Swapping to vaping presents a few challenges, many of which can be overcome. It is a different product using unfamiliar equipment but you’ll soon get the hang of vaping. Best of all, you’ll be leaving behind a habit that was seriously harming your health.
Tips for a smooth transition from smoking to vaping
- Buy yourself a decent e-cig
There are many different types of e-cigs out there making finding the right vaping kit hard to find. Take a look online at starter e-cig kits, perfect for giving you the inside track on how to get started with vaping. Research the type of equipment that is best for vaping newbies, choosing a piece of kit that isn’t complicated to use or to charge. In terms of price, opt for mid-range as very cheap e-cigs won’t deliver the hit you’ll need as you try to kick the smoking habit.
- Test out a range of e-liquids
There are literally hundreds of flavours on the market, so opt for an assortment, with these sample e-liquid packs to find the one that works best for you and gives you that kick you’re after. Many people love to experiment with crazy vaping juice flavours, like bubble gum and strawberry cheesecake flavours, but you may prefer to go for something such as tobacco or mint when you’re just starting out.
- Don’t get a complicated mod (it won’t make you look cool!)
If you’re serious about using vaping as a way to escape cigarettes, its best to start off with the basics until you’re comfortable and found your vaping feet so to speak. Vaping and e-cigs can get really complicated when you don’t know what you’re doing, which ruin the vaping experience for you. Once you get the hang of it, with the right kit and vaping juice, vaping is gloriously uncomplicated, much cheaper than smoking cigarettes and far less harsh on your health.
- Don’t focus on the look of your e-cig
You may think that it’ll be easier for you if you pick an e-cig that looks like a cigarette. But the reality is, these smaller e-gigs won’t provide you with the same experience (and hit) you crave.
Fewer than 5% of smokers who go cold turkey make it successfully through the nicotine cravings that hit when a smoker is ditching the fags. These replica e-cigs are not always the right pieces of kit so take a look at the Aspire X30 or the Cool Fire Mini, two pieces of simple vaping kit which deliver a great vaping experience for the newbie.
- Gradually swap from smoking to vaping
The best way to go about swapping is to gradually insert it into your daily routine, start by swapping one cigarette with an e-cig break and gradually build up until you reach for your vape each time. Don’t rush but make sure you push yourself to the next steps too.
There are many tips for quitting smoking, one of which is to replace smoking with vaping. If you do decide to make the switch from smoking to vaping on one hit, you may still get the nicotine craving, feel a bit moody and under-the-weather but remember this: these feelings will pass and they don’t last long (although it feels like it at the time!).
- Use the right nicotine strength e-juice
Make sure when swapping to vaping, you get the right strength of e-liquid. If you buy an e-liquid that is too strong, you’ll likely end up feeling sick with a banging headache. On the other hand, if you use a liquid that is too weak, you will be left dissatisfied and possibly an almost-overpowering craving for a cigarette.
As a general rule of thumb;
- Heavy smokers (20 or more cigarettes a day) should use 18mg nicotine liquids
- Medium smokers (between 10 and 20 cigarettes a day) should go for 12mg of nicotine in e-juice
- Light smokers (up to 10 cigarettes a day) should purchase 3mg nicotine vaping juice
If you’re a heavy smoker and want to reduce your nicotine dependency, start by making the switch to vaping and being comfortable with it and then consider reducing the nicotine strength in your e-juice over time.
- Learn to vape your e-cig properly
Rather than taking hard, quick puffs of your e-cig, you’ll get the best results from a long and soft inhale. Vaping, unlike smoking, isn’t about a quick, short hit. It is something to be enjoyed and savoured, hence the different flavours and the different vaping equipment you can invest in.
Essentially, vaping is different from smoking in that it doesn’t have to be hidden or something to be ashamed of. Today, smokers are considered social pariahs, having to leave buildings to smoke in designated huts.
- Get involved with the vaping community
There are hundreds of pages on social media such as Facebook, that provide a community for people who vape. This is a great way to learn new things about vaping, ask for advice and speak to people that are in the same position as you. There is also VapeJam UK events, of which there are two held every year, one in London and the other in Liverpool.
- Be patient
Switching from smoking to vaping is a big change in your life and habits, so learning how to vape properly won’t come to you overnight. Take your time, try new things, enjoy the experience.
- Don’t vape constantly
Smoking a cigarette only takes a few minutes or quicker if you drag hard. Vaping isn’t the same. The e-juice in the tank can last for some time, tempting the newbie vaper to constantly vape. Set yourself a time when you will vape, great for breaking the old habit of smoking a cigarette until its bitter end.
Successfully switching from smoking to vaping means taking your time, being patient and trying different vaping juices and equipment until you find the combination that works for you.