Quitting smoking is one of the most common New Year's resolutions, and for good reason: it's responsible for over 480,000 deaths each year in the U.S. alone.

The problem is, it's not easy to quit. About 7 out of every 10 smokers want to quit, and about half try in any given year . However, the most commonly used approach is “cold turkey” – literally just stopping smoking – and this is also the least effective approach based on the data. Patches and gums increase your chances slightly, and medications can really help, but most smokers don't use them.

This is why vaping is a game-changer. It's something that both helps you quit smoking and is actually enjoyable . You can enjoy vaping in the same way you used to enjoy smoking, and in some ways, it's actually more enjoyable. This is why if your resolution for 2020 is to finally quit smoking, switching to vaping is one of the best ways to do it.

However, this doesn't mean it's easy . In fact, if you want to give yourself the best chance of quitting, you need to combine some helpful advice for getting the right vaping device with more general advice for kicking cigarettes, and this post will give you exactly that.

First, the Facts: Why You Should Switch to Vaping?

Before we get into the tips, there are a couple of crucial points to highlight.

First and foremost, vaping is much safer than smoking , at least 95% less harmful according to even the Royal College of Physicians . The exact amount of risk reduction is not entirely settled when it comes to the science , but there is no evidence to suggest that vaping is as dangerous as smoking. If you switch to vaping, you significantly reduce your risk of dying.

Vaping also helps you quit smoking . We have a post that reviews the evidence here , but the fact is supported by basically every study on the topic: vaping is effective for the same reason nicotine replacement therapy is. With an alternative source of nicotine, quitting smoking is much easier.

Finally, vaping will save you a lot of money compared to smoking. There have been many attempts to calculate exactly how much ( we've tried here ), but regardless of the specific figure, you will save money by switching.

 10 Tips for Switching and Quitting Smoking

1 - Find the Right E-cigarette Device

The number of different e-cigarettes or vaping devices on the market has increased enormously since the technology first hit the market. While beginners started with small e-cigs that looked almost like a standard cigarette, technology quickly progressed to vape pens and then to mods. When we last gave such advice here , the best options on the market were mods – if you didn't mind something large and slightly complicated – and vape pens if you wanted something simpler.

However, pod devices have really changed the landscape for new vapers. Pod-style options like the Orion DNA Go , Smok RPM or Juul have many advantages , but their main benefits are that they are portable, easy to use, and do a good job of controlling your cravings along with nicotine salt e-liquid. These have higher nicotine levels than most standard e-juices, but are much less harsh on your throat.

So while the best advice is to consider a few options and go to a vape shop (or ask a friend) to try some if possible, we think pod-style devices are the best place to start right now.

2 - Get Plenty of Supplies

When you start vaping, there’s more to buy, and you’re reliant on battery life, which is fairly unreliable compared to having enough gas in your lighter. This is why, when you start vaping , it makes sense to stock up on supplies. For example, if your battery runs out in the middle of the day, you’ll need to recharge, and that’s not always easy depending on where you are. Similarly, if you start vaping but run out of e-liquid, what will you do? Either you need to find more as soon as possible, or you’ll have nothing to vape.

The best solution is to prepare more than you probably think you need . If you get a device that allows you to vape while charging (most e-cigs do these days), that’s great, but if you get two or spare batteries, then you’ll always be ready. Similarly, you might not need more than a couple of bottles of juice, but if you get 5, say, you’ll have plenty to keep you going and more room when you start to run low.

You might not want to spend too much if you’re not sure you’ll love vaping, but the best advice is to get a little more than you really think you’ll need.

3 - Make a Plan to Quit

Choosing a quit date is an important part of any attempt to quit smoking. If you don’t set a date in stone, you might just keep “having one last cigarette” or finishing your current pack and never even make an attempt. This is why most sources suggest choosing a quit date . You need to make that date in the next couple of weeks, but around New Year, the most sensible choice is Jan 1st . Whatever date you choose, make sure that from that day on you don’t smoke a cigarette . That’s it.

Making a plan also means getting rid of your cigarettes, ashtrays, and lighters – basically anything that will encourage a craving. There’s more to it than that (see the next tip), but you need a clear idea of what you’ll do, especially in the first few days, and the difficulties you’ll face along the way.

4 - Think About When You Crave Smoking the Most

Identifying "triggers" for smoking is an important part of quitting, regardless of how you quit. Vaping makes this a little easier because when you encounter a trigger, you can just vape in the same way you would have smoked. However, it's a mistake to assume that the transition will be seamless, so you still need to be prepared for when impulses will be most difficult to overcome. For example, do you always smoke after a meal? Do you have a friend you always used to smoke with when you hung out? These are the types of situations you need to prepare for.

Make sure your vape is fully charged, and be prepared to vape more than you usually would to compensate for missing cigarettes. The key is to transfer existing smoking behavior to vaping, but vaping feels different and nicotine doesn't hit you as quickly, so you need to pay particular attention to these times. If you can avoid difficult situations (e.g., going for a drink with the friend you always smoked with) for the first few days, that will help, but in any case, having a plan of action is essential. Even something as simple as getting a stronger e-liquid can help you curb your cravings.

5 - Get the Right Amount of Nicotine

Finding your nicotine strength is the hardest part of buying e-liquid for the first time. For standard e-liquids, the usual advice is 18 mg/ml if you smoke a pack a day, 12 mg/ml if you smoke less than a pack, or bi