- Make With James
- Posts
- How to get rid of your addiction
All our life, so far as it has definite form, is but a mass of habits—practical, emotional, and intellectual—systematically organized for our weal or woe, and bearing us irresistibly towards our destiny, whatever the latter may be.
— William James
About a month ago, I kicked my nicotine addiction for good. While nicotine itself isn’t the real villain, nearly a decade of smoking certainly was.
The best part? I’m no longer tied to an addictive substance. I feel free—and free feels amazing.
But let me tell you, the road to freedom wasn’t smooth. Here’s how my 10-year struggle looked:
Years 0–4: Didn’t even consider quitting.
Years 4–6: Tried quitting every six months but never lasted more than a day. Switched to vaping.
Years 6–8: Actively tried to quit. Sometimes went a few months without smoking but always relapsed. Experimented with nicotine gums, patches, and other products.
Years 8–10: Finally stopped smoking but became hooked on nicotine gum—lots of it.
For those last four years, quitting became one of my life goals. Each attempt started the same way: cold turkey. But the first three days were brutal—sickness, blurry vision, no focus. Knowing how awful it would be made starting over even harder.
But then, I realized there was an easier way.
Looking back, my “quitting” was really just replacing. Here’s how the timeline continued:
Year 9–10: Used nicotine gum but started introducing regular gum into the mix.
Year 10–Now: Dropped the nicotine gum altogether. Still chew regular gum, but hey, much easier to stop.
In essence, I swapped my nicotine addiction for a chewing-gum habit. Not perfect, but another step forward.
Quitting is deeply personal, and most advice out there boils down to: Be strong. Push through.
That never worked for me. So, I developed my own approach:
1/ Stop quitting, start replacing.
Charles Duhigg, in The Power of Habit, nails it:
The Golden Rule of Habit Change: You can’t extinguish a bad habit, you can only change it.
I’d heard this before but never applied it to smoking. Turns out, it’s a game-changer. Replacing a bad habit with a less harmful one makes quitting feel less overwhelming.
For example:
Always scrolling social media on the toilet and hating it? Try replacing it with a (less addictive) mobile game.
Later, trade the game for a book you love.
Take it step by step. Make the transition gentle, not jarring.
2/ Take your time.
I used to tell myself: I don’t care if I use nicotine gum for 10 years, as long as I eventually stop smoking.
This mindset made the process feel manageable. If you’re serious about quitting, think marathon, not sprint.
As Duhigg also said:
Change might not be fast, and it isn’t always easy. But with time and effort, almost any habit can be reshaped.
This approach worked for me, and I hope it might help you too. I know how tough breaking an addiction can be, but discovering a gentler way made all the difference.
If my story helps even one person take a step toward freedom, it’ll mean the world to me.
— James
Tools & Websites
mymind is a beautifully designed app that helps you remember everything while organizing nothing. It lets you save notes, bookmarks, and images on a sleek, canvas-like interface. The magic? Their AI automatically labels and tags everything for you. While I prefer hands-on organizing, this is perfect for quickly saving ideas and content.
Bluesky is the new social media platform catching the attention of everyone tired of Twitter’s chaos post-Elon. It promises a safe, open-source haven with features like customizable moderation filters. If you’re looking for a fresh start online, this might be it.
Big Desk Energy is a retro-inspired website by Tyler Denk (founder of Beehiiv, the newsletter platform I use). It’s packed with Windows 98 vibes—yes, you can even play Pong. Fun fact: BDE started as a Spotify playlist featuring tracks perfect for productive work.
yup—this is a website
James’ Library
Book | This was one of the first self-help books I ever read, and it’s all about habits—before it became the hot topic it is today. Charles Duhigg explains the habit loop and how to hack it for positive change. The book also dives into fascinating stories about how companies tricked us into creating new habits. If you want to reshape your life or understand the tactics used by inventive marketers, this is a must-read. “Foaming is a huge reward,” said Sinclair, the brand manager. “Shampoo doesn’t have to foam, but we add foaming chemicals because people expect it each time they wash their hair. Same thing with laundry detergent. And toothpaste—now every company adds sodium laureth sulfate to make toothpaste foam more. There’s no cleaning benefit, but people feel better when there’s a bunch of suds around their mouth. Once the customer starts expecting that foam, the habit starts growing. |
Video | If you’ve seen Casey Neistat’s content, you know he’s big on running—even after a motorcycle accident left him with most of his right leg replaced by titanium. Doctors told him he'd never run again, but it just fueled him to run more (25+ marathons ever since). This video is all about persistence, motivation, and chasing the impossible. It’s beautifully shot, deeply inspiring, and somehow never cringe. Classic Casey. |
…Aesthetic Corner…
 |  |
The Analog System is a minimalist tool for analog lovers. It’s a set of task cards with a wooden cardholder (walnut or maple) designed to keep your daily priorities visible at all times.
The cards are printed on premium uncoated paper, and a metal divider keeps your “daily,” “next,” and “someday” tasks organized. It’s both functional and a beautiful desk accessory. Perfect for those who love handwritten productivity.
  |   |
Perplexity, an AI company building alternatives to OpenAI and Claude, has some of the most stunning designs I’ve seen. Their visuals are so good I’ve made them the wallpapers for all my devices.
If you’re (still) on X, follow Phi for daily inspiration. Their aesthetic is :chef’s kiss:
Sustainable Living
Nightingale Housing is a non-profit building environmentally and socially sustainable housing. Their apartments foster a sense of community, making urban life feel like living in a friendly village.
Their first project, The Commons, was a bold response to Melbourne’s housing crisis. Completed in 2013, it’s now a model for affordable, low-carbon development.
So far, Nightingale has delivered 616 homes, with nearly 500 more on the way. Their approach doesn’t just help the planet—it makes home life cozier, greener, and more connected.
Friends of James
Beehiiv — the powerhouse behind all my newsletters, helping me craft, design, grow my audience, and monetize effortlessly.
Notion — my go-to tool for the last 6+ years, where I store all my notes, manage tasks, and essentially run both my life and businesses.
Webflow — the engine behind all my websites, letting me design, build, and launch seamlessly without code.
Make — the tool that runs my business on autopilot, handling all recurring and time-consuming tasks
*these are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them. Your support directly helps keep this newsletter going ✌️
Reply