How to Deal with Cravings When Switching to Vaping

Making the switch from smoking to vaping is a powerful step toward reducing harm and regaining control over your nicotine intake. But even with the best intentions, cravings can strike hard — especially in the early days of quitting cigarettes.

Understanding how to manage and overcome cravings is key to staying on track. This guide offers practical strategies to help you stick with vaping, reduce dependency, and regain confidence in your smoke-free journey.

1. Why Cravings Happen After you Stop Smoking When you stop smoking, your body begins to adjust to the absence of thousands of chemicals — but especially nicotine. Even if you’re still using nicotine through vaping, your delivery method has changed, and so has the speed and strength of its effects.

According to the NHS, common causes of cravings during transition:

• Routine triggers like drinking coffee, watching TV, or taking a break
• Emotional associations like boredom, anxiety, or celebration
• Situational triggers like see others smoke, drinking alcohol, or socialising

Cravings are normal and expected — not a sign of failure. The key is to prepare and respond before they overwhelm you.

2. Choose the Right Vape Kit and Nicotine Strength

One of the most effective ways to combat cravings is choosing the right device and nicotine level. Recommended FREESMO devices for managing cravings:

• Elf Bar Elfa Pro Prefilled Pod Kit – Black: Sleek, reliable and satisfying — ideal for moderate to heavy users.

• IVG 2400 Prefilled Pod Kit – Apple Edition: Powerful flavour delivery in a compact design — excellent for consistent dosing.

• OXVA Xlim SQ Pro 2 Pod Kit – Brown Wood: Adjustable power and long-lasting battery for advanced users wanting control.

• Pixl Duo 6K Prefilled Vape Kit – Raspberry Edition: High-capacity and bold flavour make this a top pick for satisfying strong cravings.

• IVG Pro 12 Prefilled Pod Vape Kit – Blue Raspberry Ice: Designed for long-lasting use with ultra-smooth vapour, ideal for heavy craving periods.

• Lost Mary Nera 30K FullView Prefilled Pod Kit – Berry Edition: Massive capacity, strong flavour, and FullView tech make this kit ideal for all-day satisfaction.

Choosing a nicotine salt e-liquid with 10mg to 20mg nicotine strength gives smoother throat hits and faster absorption, helping mimic the rapid nicotine delivery of cigarettes.

3. Learn to Identify Your Triggers

Not all cravings are physical. Many are mental or behavioural and can be tied to routines and environments. Ask yourself:

• Do I crave a cigarette after eating, while drinking, or during breaks?
• Is it a certain time of day or emotion that triggers it?
• Do I miss the feeling of smoke, or just the ritual?

Write these down. Once identified, you can prepare a response that fits each moment.

4. Respond Fast — But Smartly

When a craving hits, act quickly but not impulsively. Here’s how to stop it in its tracks:

• Vape early: Don’t wait until the craving grows. A few calm puffs can prevent escalation.
• Keep your vape nearby: Especially in high-risk situations like social events or work breaks.
• Use familiar flavours: Tobacco and menthol flavours replicate the taste of cigarettes to help bridge the gap.
• Hydrate and breathe: A quick sip of water and deep breathing alongside a few puffs can calm your body and mind.

Devices like the GeekVape Sonder Q offer dependable vapour delivery, making them perfect for managing short, intense cravings.

5. Don’t Under-Vape in the Beginning

Many new vapers don’t vape enough to satisfy their cravings, especially if they’re afraid of overdoing it. But remember — vaping is typically less efficient in nicotine delivery than smoking. For this reason, the NHS recommends you vape as much as you need to manage your cravings and withdrawal symptoms, even if this means vaping more than you used to smoke.

Try:

• 5–10 puffs per craving episode, spaced over a few minutes
• Using a higher-strength e-liquid (15–20mg nic salts) for the first few weeks
• Choosing pod systems that mimic the cigarette experience, including tight draws and fast delivery

Over time, your cravings and puff frequency naturally decrease as your body adjusts.

6. Create a Craving-Fighting Routine

Try pairing your vape sessions with comforting activities, such as enjoying a warm drink like herbal tea or coffee, taking a quick walk or doing a light stretch, or engaging in something you enjoy like listening to music, reading, or gaming. You might also find it helpful to write down your reasons for making the switch in the first place. By establishing these positive mental and physical patterns, your new habit can become more rewarding and satisfying than smoking.

7. Talk Yourself Through the Craving

Instead of automatically reaching for your vape, take a moment to talk yourself through the craving. Remind yourself that these urges are temporary and usually fade within a few minutes. Affirm your decision to choose a less harmful alternative, and remember that having a cigarette won’t solve anything—it only restarts the cycle you’re trying to break. Keep positive affirmations handy, either saved in your notes app or written on a small card in your wallet, so you can quickly reinforce your motivation whenever a craving hits.

8. Be Patient with Yourself

Relapses are a normal part of the process and nothing to be ashamed of. If you find yourself having a cigarette, don’t let it lead back to regular smoking. Instead, take a moment to reflect on what triggered the slip, and check whether your vape setup or nicotine strength still meets your needs. Recommit to your smoke-free goals, and view the experience as a valuable learning opportunity. Remember, every craving you resist is a success, and every time you recover from a slip-up, you’re making real progress.

Best Vape Kits at FREESMO

PIXL Duo 12 6K Prefilled Pod Vape Kit

• Dual Flavour System: Seamlessly switch between two flavours with a revolving mouthpiece for up to 3000 puffs per flavour.
• Powerful Performance: 850mAh rechargeable battery with Boost Mode for intensified flavour and vapour production.

Lost Mary Nera 30K Fullview Prefilled Pod Kit

• Up to 30,000 puffs with 24ml of prefilled 20mg nic salt e-liquid.
• Turbo and Normal output modes with curved LED screen display.
• 800mAh rechargeable battery with Type-C charging support

IVG Pro 12 Prefilled Pod Vape Kit

• Delivers up to 10,000 puffs with refillable pod system
• 1000mAh rechargeable battery with LED indicator
• 20mg nic salt e-liquid and mesh coil for smooth, flavourful vaping

9. FREESMO’s Expert Tip: Use Our Smoke-Free Questionnaire

If you’re vaping to cope with stress and unsure if your device, flavour, or strength is right for you, try the Smoke-Free Questionnaire from FREESMO. You'll get personalised guidance based on:

• Your stress habits
• Nicotine tolerance
• Device preferences
• Lifestyle patterns

The goal isn’t just to vape, it’s to leverage vaping as a tool to stop smoking.

Cravings are part of the transition, but with the right tools and mindset, they’re beatable. With less harmful alternatives and a personalised plan, you can stay in control and on the path to a smoke-free life.

At FREESMO, we’re here to support your journey — one craving at a time.