I've been a smoker almost 15 years. I started at about four cigarettes a day and my peak (for the past few years) has been about ten cigarettes a day.
I know that won't seem like much to many smokers and former smokers, but it really is an addiction. I have quit cold a few times, but never for longer than a couple of months and usually no more than a week or two. For me, I think the addiction is at least equal parts nicotine and ritual, and it's the ritual of the thing that always brought me back to it.
Part of it is what might be called "micro" ritual: the act itself. Pulling out a cig, sniffing it, pulling out the lighter, lighting up, etc.
But part of it is the "macro" ritual: things like when, where, how I would smoke. Revising something I'm writing? Print out the pages and take them outside with a cigarette. Need a momentary stretch while watching TV and knitting? Take a book outside with a cigarette for a few minutes. Long drive in the car? Pause occasionally for a smoke. Late night phone call? Great time for a smoke. Etc.
I could drop the nicotine. I knew I could. And I could drop the micro ritual, though it was difficult. But dropping the macro ritual was a BEAR. Researching and writing for hours on end without smoke breaks for revision? Revising at my desk? Long car drives without cigarettes? Impossible....
Last Saturday, on a whim, with absolutely no intention of quitting smoking, I bought an njoy cigalike at the convenience store. I also had a fresh pack. I figured I'd kind of alternate a bit, see what it was like.
By Sunday night I was thinking: What if I just don't get any more cigarettes when I run out? Try a few more of these ecigs? I bought a Blu for when the NJoy died.
By Monday I was actively researching non-disposables. If I'm going to quit smoking (notice the transition!) disposables won't cut it long-term. At first I was looking at the Blu and Green Smoke style kits, but they kind of bothered me. I've never liked the trash smoking produces, and even the nondisposable cigalikes didn't seem like that much of an improvement. Then I found some videos about PVs. I wanted one. I started comparing starter kits.
By Tuesday I had a list of promising looking starters. I took the list to a couple of local stores, which did carry starters but didn't carry anything on my list. I settled for chatting with the employees to figure out who might become the most helpful and ordered a 2 Evod starter kit online. (It seemed to get decent reviews as a starter and I liked that it was possible to self-recycle the atomizer heads. I hope this was a good bet.)
I spent my free time on Wednesday and Thursday planning my "accessories." They're not strictly necessary, of course, but I felt that making the switch more even more fun would help reinforce my plan. I've lined a mint tin with foam to convert it into a pocket carrying box, kind of like a cig hard pack. I found a good cigar box to keep my juice in. I chose a little notebook in which I can review juices (something I do when reviewing beers), keeping track of what I like and don't. Yeah, I'm nerdy/goofy like that. But, like I said, I think adding some fun for myself will help reinforce my plan to quit.
Today I am still nursing the Blu, but the Evods have arrived and are charging. I have a few juices to try. I'm psyched to get started!
It's Friday and I have not had a cigarette since Sunday. I'm not saying I never will again, but things are looking good....
I know that won't seem like much to many smokers and former smokers, but it really is an addiction. I have quit cold a few times, but never for longer than a couple of months and usually no more than a week or two. For me, I think the addiction is at least equal parts nicotine and ritual, and it's the ritual of the thing that always brought me back to it.
Part of it is what might be called "micro" ritual: the act itself. Pulling out a cig, sniffing it, pulling out the lighter, lighting up, etc.
But part of it is the "macro" ritual: things like when, where, how I would smoke. Revising something I'm writing? Print out the pages and take them outside with a cigarette. Need a momentary stretch while watching TV and knitting? Take a book outside with a cigarette for a few minutes. Long drive in the car? Pause occasionally for a smoke. Late night phone call? Great time for a smoke. Etc.
I could drop the nicotine. I knew I could. And I could drop the micro ritual, though it was difficult. But dropping the macro ritual was a BEAR. Researching and writing for hours on end without smoke breaks for revision? Revising at my desk? Long car drives without cigarettes? Impossible....
Last Saturday, on a whim, with absolutely no intention of quitting smoking, I bought an njoy cigalike at the convenience store. I also had a fresh pack. I figured I'd kind of alternate a bit, see what it was like.
By Sunday night I was thinking: What if I just don't get any more cigarettes when I run out? Try a few more of these ecigs? I bought a Blu for when the NJoy died.
By Monday I was actively researching non-disposables. If I'm going to quit smoking (notice the transition!) disposables won't cut it long-term. At first I was looking at the Blu and Green Smoke style kits, but they kind of bothered me. I've never liked the trash smoking produces, and even the nondisposable cigalikes didn't seem like that much of an improvement. Then I found some videos about PVs. I wanted one. I started comparing starter kits.
By Tuesday I had a list of promising looking starters. I took the list to a couple of local stores, which did carry starters but didn't carry anything on my list. I settled for chatting with the employees to figure out who might become the most helpful and ordered a 2 Evod starter kit online. (It seemed to get decent reviews as a starter and I liked that it was possible to self-recycle the atomizer heads. I hope this was a good bet.)
I spent my free time on Wednesday and Thursday planning my "accessories." They're not strictly necessary, of course, but I felt that making the switch more even more fun would help reinforce my plan. I've lined a mint tin with foam to convert it into a pocket carrying box, kind of like a cig hard pack. I found a good cigar box to keep my juice in. I chose a little notebook in which I can review juices (something I do when reviewing beers), keeping track of what I like and don't. Yeah, I'm nerdy/goofy like that. But, like I said, I think adding some fun for myself will help reinforce my plan to quit.
Today I am still nursing the Blu, but the Evods have arrived and are charging. I have a few juices to try. I'm psyched to get started!
It's Friday and I have not had a cigarette since Sunday. I'm not saying I never will again, but things are looking good....
