In this article...
As you may have come to find out, smoking isn't just addictive, it's habitual. The celebratory cig after completing a task, or the 10:00 am smoke with your coworkers can be a hard habit to kick. Especially if you partake in your own little ritual of rolling cigarettes.
As we're a vape retailer, we have access to a plethora of data, and one of those points is reviews. As it turns out, some of our customers found a lot of success in "keeping busy" with their hands, when opting for a cigarette alternative.
The power of habit
It's not just our customers, there's actually a lot of psychology behind it. Keeping your hands busy can reduce boredom-driven cravings [1]. When you smoke, you'd likely do so at a certain time, or with certain people – and that forms a pattern. This can tell your body to expect nicotine at a certain time, that craving can also have a lot to do with what your hands are doing – this is called a psychological dependency.
Even the act of putting a cigarette to your mouth is habitual. It's a mechanical action used to satisfy a craving, and your brain learns that through this movement, it's to expect a reward. Similar to positive reinforcement[2] The battle isn't won just by kicking the nicotine – it's a combination of ending the habit.
Remember, it's not nicotine itself that's dangerous when smoking, it's the harmful chemicals and carcinogens associated with burning the tobacco. There are many nicotine substitutes that are less dangerous, vaping is one of those substitutes – and it seems to work.
One of our customers wrote on TrustPilot:
"Stopped straight away, used to roll cigs , some of my habbit was fiddling, the vape in my hand, topping it up, dismantling it scratched that itch, where as champix, patches and the like dont satisfy that. I feel loads better and quite proud of myself even though its only been 4 days. Onwards and upwards, thanks guys"
This customer seemed to find success in a more "advanced" vape kit, one that requires you to swap out a physical coil. It's much more involved for the digits than a disposable-style vape, giving you something to fiddle with.
A few of our favourite "fiddly" vapes
We’ve compiled a list of a few vapes that can help to keep your hands busy:
Mavro Pro
The Mavro Pro is a pod vape kit featuring a dial-button design. You can press this button to activate the vape, or you can just inhale. The dial offers a tactile tick when spun, which can appeal to even the fiddliest of smokers. The MTL style of vaping fits the Mavro Pro perfectly, mimicking the feel of smoking – without the awful taste.
Arc 5
The Arc 5 is a little more advanced than the Mavro Pro – It features a tank and coil rather than a pod system. Changing and cleaning the coil can be a great way to keep your hands busy. The buttons on the face of the Arc can also serve as a distraction when you're feeling a little fidgety. This device is also designed for MTL vaping, again replicating the feel of a cigarette.
Aeromax Boost
The Aeromax Boost is absolutely a kit that will keep your hands busy. It presents a tactile button that can be pressed to activate the device, which can also be turned to dial in the power. The Aeromax is a little more cigarette-shaped than the other kits in this article, being a "stick" design. The adjustable airflow slider can also help with mechanical cravings.
Vaping itself helps satisfy mechanical cravings
Compared to traditional nicotine cessation methods, like gum or patches, vaping can work better for some people. One of the main reasons is that it doesn't just tackle the nicotine side of the habit – it also replaces the physical routine of smoking.
For many smokers, it's not only about nicotine; it's the hand-to-mouth action, the inhale, the exhale – the ritual itself. Vaping naturally mirrors that behaviour, which can make the transition feel more familiar and, for some, easier to stick with.
A great example of how people use vaping to quit smoking is to reduce the nicotine strength gradually, until it's just the habit left. Kicking both nicotine and the mechanical habit of smoking at the same time can be incredibly difficult. So, tackling one at a time can be a really effective strategy when stopping smoking for good.
Can't argue with the facts.
According to the NHS, you're roughly twice as likely to quit smoking if you use a vape compared with other nicotine replacement products[3]. A lot of that figure will have something to do with satisfying that psychological craving.
We are who we are
Full transparency – we're a vape retailer, and it may seem a little rich advocating for vaping when we produce and sell our own products. But this article aims to help you kick the habit of smoking, whether you choose to do that with or without us. We're a people-first brand, and helping smokers break free from the chains of tobacco has always been our ultimate goal.
Sources:
[1] – https://www.thefamilychemist.co.uk/quitting-smoking-10-best-ways-to-resist-tobacco-cravings
[2] – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2946180/
[3] – https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/ready-to-quit-smoking/vaping-to-quit-smoking/
