Quitting weed and cigarettes
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Swap your smoking habit for a constructive task that keeps your mind and hands busy, like walking, reading, working out, or picking up a new skill.
Quitting weed leaves a gap in your day; filling that ritual is often more helpful than just trying to endure it.
- One person noted that video games might not be a good hobby if you are trying to stop smoking weed.
some people found it on their own
- Adopt new hobbies such as reading, gaming, painting, or learning a skill to replace the time and lifestyle previously occupied by cannabis.7
- If you smoke when bored, try finding new hobbies or working more to stay occupied.3
End relationships with friends who use drugs or hinder your recovery efforts.
Socializing with those who can get you drugs maintains addiction; removing them reduces cravings.
- One person noted quitting seeing these friends for 2 years helped eliminate cravings.
some people found it on their own
Concentrate on remaining abstinent only for the upcoming minute, hour, or day, instead of the entire duration.
You need not conquer the full day, only the current short interval.
some people found it on their own
Decide to quit for just that day only, then decide again for the next one, rather than committing to never smoking again for the rest of your life.
some people found it on their own
Take up physical activities like gym workouts, martial arts, or yoga to replace drug use with healthy habits.
you’ll look and feel way better
some people found it on their own
Discard all cannabis and related paraphernalia immediately to remove temptation from your environment.
Having it nearby sets you up for failure; keeping it out of sight keeps it out of mind.
some people found it on their own
Limit cannabis use to specific contexts, such as only before creative work, after finishing a project, or after 9 PM for sleep.
Restricting use to certain times or occasions can help manage impact and responsibility.
some people found it on their own
Do physical activities like running, hiking, or walking to wear the body down and help it sleep better.
Physical exertion can assist with insomnia and appetite loss by tiring the body out.
some people found it on their own
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Secure a partner who cheers your wins and provides firm support during failures.
- They do not have to be quitting themselves.
some people found it on their own
- Find an accountability buddy or reach out for support if you need help quitting.9
Write a list of reasons for quitting and keep it accessible to reference during cravings.
some people found it on their own
- Identify what triggers your desire to smoke and work to avoid those specific triggers.4
Recall your motivations for quitting whenever an urge arises.
Since weed lacks the physical addiction of other substances, overcoming it is largely a mental challenge.
some people found it on their own
Concentrate on remaining sober just for the current day, relying on the fact that future days will handle themselves.
some people found it on their own
Mark successful smoke-free days with dot stickers on a calendar to create a visual representation of progress.
some people found it on their own
Remove all smoking-related items from your home and avoid places where friends smoke to eliminate triggers.
some people found it on their own
Apply habit-stacking by leveraging an existing routine as the cue for a new behavior.
some people found it on their own
Try Allen Carr’s Easyway method to replace cravings and anxiety with positive feelings.
some people found it on their own
If you make an error, avoid self-criticism or quitting; instead, extract lessons from the failure and resume immediately.
some people found it on their own
Journal regularly to hold yourself accountable for your progress.
some people found it on their own