Switching from Cigs to E-cigs is Hard! 5 Biggest Obstacles & How to Overcome Them

Let's be honest, quitting tobacco is a tough task. Many people have said it's the hardest thing they've ever done. Switching to vaping can be a big help, as it'll allow you to continue using nicotine while you transition away from cigarettes, but that doesn't mean it's always smooth sailing.

We know that the New Year is when many people make resolutions to make big life changes, so if you’ve vowed to replace cigarettes with e-cigarettes in 2019, read this article. We are going to talk about five of the biggest hurdles people confront in making the switch, and how they can be overcome.

1. Not ready to quit

You know smoking is bad for you. You've known you should quit for some time now. But are you really motivated to do it? If you're perfectly happy with smoking and don't have any desire to quit, you're probably not going into vaping with an open mind, and you're going to resent any replacement for your cigarettes because it'll never be your cigarettes. If you can't find the motivation to quit for yourself, can you do it to honor a friend or family member hurt by tobacco? To do better by your children or a significant other? Just like the old expression goes, if you think you can’t do it, you’re right.

2. Quitting too quickly

You may have heard a story about the guy who walked into a vape shop, bought a mod, and threw his cigarettes in the trash on the way out of the store, never returning to smoking again. We’ve heard it too, but we suspect it might be an urban legend. Even if it’s true, that's probably not going to be you. It's not most of us. Don't be afraid of tapering off your cigarette use over time, replacing smoke breaks with vape sessions one at a time throughout the day. And don't give up if you slip once in a while even after quitting. An old vapers' adage: don't count the ones you smoke, count the ones you don't. But also remember, you’re not going to reap any of the benefits of stopping smoking if you continue smoking, even if you’re vaping at the same time. In fact, you might even be making matters worse for yourself.

3. Bad gear

Not all gear is bad gear. Most of it isn't, in fact. But it might not be the right gear for you. Are you having trouble dialing the settings on your regulated mod? Not getting enough of a cloud off your cigalike or pod mod? Maybe you need to try a different category of device better suited to your needs. Check our articles on how to choose the right device here.

4. Wrong Flavor

Did you start off with a tobacco flavor expecting it to taste just like (insert cigarette brand here)? Or try a dessert flavor only to be overwhelmed by a cloying sweetness? There's a reason we carry more than 1455 brands of e-liquid—not every taste is right for every vaper. It may take a dozen or more tries of different liquids before you find the one that completes you, but rest assured there's one out there with your name on it.

5. Lack of Support

Are you the only aspiring vaper you know? Do your friends still smoke, or make fun of your choice to vape? Finding a support network is crucial when it comes to making major life changes, which is why quit-smoking groups and hotlines are promoted by governments and healthcare providers. These traditional outlets may not be as supportive of your decision as if you were abandoning nicotine products entirely, but vast online communities have sprung up for vapers to offer one another encouragement and support, whether you need some motivation or help figuring out how to dial in your mod. Here’s an article we wrote about how to find your vape squad.

Switching isn't easy, we can't stress that enough. But so long as it's something you truly want to do, we're here to remind you that it's certainly not impossible. Whether it takes a few days or a few months, as long as you're trying you're on the right track. We know, because we did it ourselves.