for six years


Six years is a long time to be tethered to anything—especially something that quietly convinces you it’s giving you relief while slowly taking your freedom.


For me, vaping started as something small during COVID. Casual - usually just when I had a drink (which was everyday actually) It was a habit that fit easily into the margins of my day—between shoots, in the car, during a moment of stress, or even in celebration. It became a companion - something I always had to have within an arm's reach. And I hid it from everyone. I thought I was such a clever cat even managing to conceal my bad habit on a trip to Australia with my family.


But somewhere along the way, I realized it wasn’t something I chose anymore—it was something I needed. And that shift is subtle, but it’s everything.


Quitting was very dramatic. It was messy. It was uncomfortable. It forced me to sit with myself in ways I hadn’t in years. No quick escape. No inhale to take the edge off. Just me, my thoughts, and the realization that I had been outsourcing my calm.


And that’s where the real work began.


Because quitting vaping isn’t just about breaking a physical habit—it’s about reclaiming your autonomy. It’s about remembering what it feels like to exist in your own body without needing to “take the edge off” every few hours. It’s learning how to move through stress, boredom, anxiety, and even joy without reaching for something outside of yourself.


At first, it feels like something is missing. But over time, you start to realize—you’re not losing anything. You’re gaining space.

Space in your lungs.

Space in your mind.

Space in your day.

More money in your bank account.


And in that space, something unexpected shows up: FREEDOM.


Real freedom to me looks like this:


  • not having to check your pockets before you leave the house
  • not planning your entire day around your next hit


It’s sitting in a moment—fully, deeply present—without needing to escape it.


I still have the constant low-level anxiety, but not the feeling of being owned by something I once thought I controlled.


What I have now is better.

I have clarity.

I have control.

I have breath—real, full, uninterrupted breath.


If you’re in it right now—if you’re wondering whether it’s worth quitting—this is your sign that it is. Not because it’s easy. Not because it’s comfortable. But because on the other side of that discomfort is something far greater than a temporary fix.

On the other side is freedom. And once you feel it, you realize—it was never the vape giving you relief.


It was always you.

A woman stands on a stone bridge, enjoying the scenic countryside view.

the nuts and bolts of how i actually quit


I like to research, so that's where I started. There are SO many ways out there and advice people give.

Cold turkey. Weaning off. Nicotine replacements.


So I think back in the past when I've been able to successfully quit things and what has worked for me is (gulp) COLD TURKEY.


I had a loose goal of quitting by the end of 2025. Then January came and still vaping. At any given time, I'd have 4-5 different vapes hanging around... different flavors,etc. And every month I'd tell myself 'OK... I'm just gonna use these up and not buy more. And that'll be it.' And then the next thing I knew I'd be at the vape store again buying my favorite flavor... mint.


I also read somewhere that a change in routine is a great place to start to kick a bad habit. So in mid January I went to Canada for this workshop and since vaping on planes and in airports and in hotel rooms is frowned upon and illegal of course (even though I had been breaking the law with that for years now). So late night on January 17th 2026 I made the decision. I bawled... didn't sleep a wink and vaped all night. When I checked out of my room, I left 2 nearly empty vapes in the hotel trash and destroyed a whole pack of menthols that I had brought along, too (I like the occasional real cig). But I kept one half full one and headed to the airport.


I bawled on the way to the airport but it was old-habit-business-vaping-as-usual until Denver.


I ceremoniously vaped in an outside area trying my dam-nest not to bawl.

I tried to visualize clean lungs. Fresh air. Living a healthy lifestyle. And what I'd spend my money on instead of vapes every month.


The next thing I did was toss that last remaining MF vape in the bathroom trash at Denver airport and didn't look back.

tip #1 - MINDSET


Mindset. Hands down. Ive been adding a meditation to my lineup on taking your power back for things you've given permission to control you.

And repeating to myself everyday that I am a 'non-smoker/vaper.'

I must have listened to this specific meditation on repeat, like, 5 times on that flight home.

An image of several candles lit in a bowl, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere.

tip #2 - HAVE A PLAN


Have a plan. Because cravings will come and they are REAL.

And while they are getting less going on month 3 of no vaping, they are by no means gone completely.


Since my favorite vape flavor was mint, I stocked up on allllll the minty things. Gum, peppermint essential oils to inhale, mints. And good things to sniff.

A cat sniffs a bouquet of flowers on a table with various household items.
A woman with blonde hair and glasses, wearing a black shirt, is making a hand gesture while looking at the camera.

Boom Boom sticks from Walmart. A true Godsend for me.

tip #3 - HEALTHY DISTRACTIONS


Distractions. This kind of goes hand-in-hand with tip #2, but know what healthy distractions can get you through a craving.


my go-to healthy distractions list:

  • deep breathing
  • getting up from the computer (when I used to LOVE to vape) and walking around to stretch
  • listening to wind chimes on spotify
  • visualizing being healthy with clean lungs
A woman with blonde hair and tattoos sits at a desk, working on a computer in a bright room.

Tip #4 - HEALTHY REPLACEMENT


I read that you want to snack because of the hand to mouth fetish you develop. For me, I've been craving SUGAR. And since sugar and have broken up a year ago, my go-to that seems to do the trick is COFFEEEEEEEEE. I've become a coffee addict and a coffee snob and I'm not ashamed of it.

A red coffee mug filled with a hot beverage sits on a table in front of a blurred background.
A cup of coffee with a frothy top, sitting on a wooden table in a cafe.
A laptop computer on a wooden table with a cup of coffee in the foreground.
A hand holding a mug of black coffee, with a pastry on a plate in the foreground.
A close-up view of a frothy, swirled cappuccino drink served in a black cup on a saucer with a spoon and raw sugar on a table.
Two cups of coffee with latte art on a marble surface.
Two hands holding coffee cups on a bed with white sheets.
A person's hand holding a black mug, with a black dog resting on a patio in the background.

AN UNEXPECTED AWESOME THING... BETTER SLEEP!


Have I told you that I haven't slept a full night of sleep since vaping?? I thought it was perimenopause starting, but now that I haven't vaped, I've slept SOOOOOOO much better. Just a surprising observation.


Not to negate or mention at all the impact my decision has had on Violet. I want to be a good example to her and when I told her I was quitting, she was so happy.

A young couple sitting together, the man embracing the woman, who is holding a coffee cup and smiling.

IF I CAN DO IT, SO CAN YOU


Quitting vaping isn’t about losing something—it’s about getting yourself back. Every craving you push through is proof that you’re stronger than the habit that once felt in control. It’s not always easy, but neither is staying stuck. Your lungs heal, your energy comes back, your mind clears—and little by little, you start to feel free again. One hard moment at a time, you’re building a life that doesn’t depend on a device to feel okay. And that’s real power.

If you’re on this journey—or thinking about starting—I would love to hear your story.