What to do when a vape craving hits
A single vape craving usually lasts 3 to 5 minutes, then peaks and fades. The goal isn't to beat it but to get through those few minutes: breathe slowly, keep your hands and mind busy with a short task, and plan for the moment before it comes.
Buy yourself time first
When a craving hits, set a 5-minute timer. That's exactly what Puffgap's SOS screen is: a 5-minute countdown with breathing, a quick task and the note you wrote yourself. By the time it ends, the craving has often already faded.
To breathe, follow the sphere above: in for 4 seconds as it grows, out for 4 seconds as it shrinks.
Five-minute tasks
Drink a glass of water. Walk for 5 minutes. Text someone. Chew gum. Take 10 deep breaths. None of these is magic; each keeps your hands and mind busy for as long as the craving lasts.
Catch your trigger in advance
Cravings tend to come at the same moments: when you wake up, with coffee, under stress, around friends or at night. If you know which one is yours, you can choose the answer ahead of time.
This is called an if-then plan: “If I get a coffee, I'll walk for 5 minutes.” You make the decision beforehand; in the moment, you just follow it.
Write yourself a note
In a calm moment, write down why you're quitting. When a craving hits, reading that note can be louder than the voice in your head. The SOS screen puts your note in front of you every time.
If the craving wins
It happens. This is a slip, not a restart. Log it and carry on; the next gap is a fresh chance. How the plan continues is in the how to quit vaping guide.
Puffgap builds this plan from your own logs. See how it works →