How I quit smoking cigarettes
I smoked cigarettes for over 20 years. Quitting has easily been one of the hardest things I’ve ever worked through. The cravings aren’t random. They show up first thing in the morning, after meals, with alcohol, after intimacy, and especially when you feel stressed or overwhelmed. Those moments aren’t about nicotine alone—they’re about regulation. If you’re trying to quit, this is an exercise I’ve used for years to help reduce cravings. It won’t make you stop overnight—but it will help you cut back daily until you gain control again. Smoking is essentially a breathing ritual: deep inhale, slow exhale. So when a craving hits, you replace the ritual—without the cigarette. Here’s the exercise: - Inhale deeply through your nose for 6 seconds - Hold the breath for 3 seconds - Slowly exhale through your mouth for 10 seconds - Repeat until the craving passes This won’t work every single time—but it will work often enough to matter. What you’re really doing is calming your nervous system and signaling safety to the body. Cravings are not weakness—they’re the body’s response to overwhelm and pattern. When you give the body another way to regulate, the urge softens. Breathing is an untapped skill. Used intentionally, it can help you reduce smoking, regain autonomy, and remind your body that you’re in control—not the habit.