Vaping exists as an alternative to smoking, a way to help adults move away from the harmful effects of tobacco cigarettes by offering a new, cheaper and healthier way to enjoy a different hobby which still hits all of the right enjoyment spots. Switching to vaping from smoking is easier than going cold turkey and is recommended for those who have tried to give up smoking in the past who have been unsuccessful (it isn’t easy). We look at why switching to vaping is a good idea and how you can maximise your chances of success.

Why Switching to Vaping is a Good Idea

First of all, let’s look at why NOT switching is a bad idea. The World Health Organisation has classified a number of chemicals found in tobacco cigarettes as being toxic and potentially cancer-causing. The flip side to this is that Public Health England (responsible for the Go Smoke Free legislation of 2007, Stoptober and more) have publically advocated for the use of vaping as an alternative to smoking and as a cessation advice. Public Health England (PHE) have announced findings, after a lengthy review, that vaping is at least 95% less harmful than smoking. That right there is a good reason to trade in your tobacco cigarettes for an ecig and some e liquids. PHE are lobbying the government in order to make vaping more available and to hopefully have e cigarettes classified as an official medical cessation device so that they may be given out on prescription.

Switching to vaping is also good for a number of other reasons. Your health is obviously the primary reason to switch over but there are plenty more. Studies show that vaping is cheaper long term than cigarettes by a long way. This is hardly surprising with the average pack of twenty cigarettes in England now costing around ten pounds. That’s ten pounds per day for a heavy smoker. Vapers need a basic starter kit (from around £20) to get started and then e liquid. With one pound e liquid being available that are high quality and offer a great flavoured vapour, the cost difference is obvious. Add to this the cost of smoking on the NHS and the environment and you can see why switching to vaping is a good idea.

Top Tips for Successfully Switching to Vaping

If you want to enjoy the benefits of vaping for your health and your wallet, you need to walk away from smoking altogether. You don’t get to reap the benefits of being a non-smoker unless you truly are not smoking at all. Due to this, it is important to put into place some things to help you make sure that your switch is successful. Smokers going cold turkey who have failed in the past have often done so because giving up smoking isn’t easy! You crave nicotine, the social aspect, the hand to mouth action, taking a drag and so on. Vaping replaces all of these in a very similar way, making it easier to switch successfully.

Consider these points to make sure that your move to vaping and away from smoking is a success.

Arrange Some Accountability

If you tell yourself you are going to switch you are only accountable to yourself. If you tell friends, family members, coworkers, your Facebook contacts and so on, you have plenty of people to help keep you on the straight and narrow. Some people do well with group accountability, some do well when choosing just one person to check in with regularly. Think about which option will best help you.

Don’t Buy Huge Amounts of Vaping Kit

Start small and work your way up. By keeping it simple you won’t be overwhelmed with choice and find yourself want to go back the simplicity of one cigarette type. A basic starter kit is all that you need to get started and some £1 e liquids. Choose a few flavours you think you might like, including tobacco e liquid if you think you’ll miss that, and take it step by step. There’s plenty of time to explore fancy vaping kit and to build a collection of different flavour later on. First though, you need to take the important step of successfully switching and walking away from tobacco smoking for good.

Have the Kit You Need

While keeping it small is important there are a few things you need to make sure you have in order to not find yourself in a position where you’re without vaping therefore vulnerable and more likely to turn back to smoking. Make sure that your small selection of e liquid is enough to keep you going. Always order more before you run out otherwise you’ll run out and this is when you might turn back to smoking. Similarly, a decent charger and spare batteries will make sure that you always have what you need for continuous vaping.

Dealing With Cravings

Cravings are the thing that make giving up smoking cold turkey so difficult. Thankfully switching to vaping covers a lot of the craving bases, however, some might still find that they are missing tobacco, and that’s ok. Recognise your craving for what they are, just your body ridding itself of the harmful chemicals you smoked, and utilise tips and tools to keep you on the straight and narrow until the moment passes. One of the reasons that vaping is such a good cessation support is that it helps with cravings too. Going cold turkey and sticking chewing gum in your mouth when you feel cravings is just not as effective as loading up an e cigarette and vaping, using the same action as you would have done when smoking.

E liquid comes in different nicotine strengths as well as with different bases (i.e. 50/50 PG/VG or High VG) so you can customise your vape to suit you which helps ward off cravings. Other ways to help combat cravings include:

• Drink water
• Be active (exercise releases endorphins)
• Be busy, distract yourself
• Use your accountability partner/support network
• Vape, don’t smoke.
• Stay away from smoking triggers i.e. certain places at certain times.

You can do this!

In Summary

Switching to vaping from tobacco smoking will be one of the smartest things that you do. It is much easier to switch than go cold turkey too which is why vaping has been attributed with helping lower the national smoking rates. Do remember that switching isn’t easy for everyone and that it is ok to find it a bit strange to begin with. Use support, maximise your chances of success by taking on board the advice here and remember, by switching to vaping you are going to make a big difference to your long-term health as well as your bank balance.

Good luck!

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