Quitting Smoking After Years: A Gentle, Practical, Lasting Approach

What if quitting smoking became a liberation… not a battle? 

If you’ve been smoking for a long time—maybe for a few decades—you already know one thing: quitting isn’t just “saying no” to a cigarette.

When cigarettes have been part of your life for years, it’s no longer only about nicotine. It becomes a reflex: coffee, the end of a meal, a glass of wine with friends, a break, stress, boredom, your phone, the car… and sometimes your body lights up before your mind has even decided.

That’s exactly why so many attempts don’t last: we try to “hold on”… when the real work is dismantling patterns—automatic habits.

I smoked for 25 years 

I’ll tell you straight: I smoked for 25 years, and I quit at 38. What truly made the difference for me wasn’t guilt—it was a strategy.

Why willpower isn't enough (especially when it's been a long time) 

For a long time, I thought I simply didn’t have enough willpower. But nicotine addiction isn’t just a “bad habit.” It’s chemical, emotional, and deeply woven into everyday life.

So if you’ve already tried and started again, the conclusion isn’t “I have no willpower,” but rather: “I need to adjust my strategy.”

What you really want is to move on

When you have a long history with cigarettes and you want to quit, you probably want to:

• quit without fighting against yourself;

• feel supported, even if you’re doing it on your own;

• have a clear plan—but a flexible one;

• understand your triggers instead of being ruled by them;

• stop living quitting like a punishment.

That’s exactly the spirit of my e-book: to give you a compass. 

What you'll find in my e-book (and why it's different) 

1) An honest story, no mask 

I share my journey: how cigarettes took root, why I started again after attempts, and what finally worked—not by magic, but through strategy.

2) Reflection sheets to understand your relationship with cigarettes

The goal isn’t to judge you. It’s to observe what triggers the urge and what cigarettes are “doing” for you (comfort, a break, a transition, belonging, soothing…).

3) A personal, realistic, kind action plan 

You build your own plan. Not a rigid plan that makes you feel guilty, but a living plan you can adjust as needed—because real life happens.

4) One simple tool : 5 mindful breaths

When the urge hits, you replace the automatic move of lighting up with something you can do anywhere: 5 deep breaths. A craving lasts about 2 minutes. 

Conclusion: one breath at a time

Quitting smoking after a long time is a process—one step at a time.

If you feel it might be the right moment—even if you doubt—I invite you to discover my e-book “How I Quit for Good.” You’ll find a gentle, practical approach designed for those who’ve tried before and want it to become part of the past.

Discover the e-book