Probably a STUPID question but I'll ask anyway...

[ninjavanish]

Has anyone ever gone through a phase where they really just didn't have a desire to smoke any of their cigars?

I mean, honestly, I know this is a cigar board...

But seriously... for like the past month or two I feel just plain robbed of my desire to smoke anything. I can't figure out why.

I have drastically reduced the amount of cigars that I smoke since taking my new job in April and leaving Cigar Retail behind... but I still smoked probably 1 or 2 a day up until about the middle of October.

Since then I can tell you exactly how many cigars I have smoked... THREE.

I still have the same passion for cigars as I did... I know that... but something... something that I can't identify is holding me back. At times when I would normally have said "Ok, I'll grab a stick and step outside and grill some hamburgers." Or "I'll just step outside and smoke just for the sake of burning one." I find myself thinking "Nah, I can smoke one later." OR "Meh, I'm just not in the mood."

Maybe it some stress from the job. Maybe it's trying to find time to spend with my new bride... I dunno. But It's seriously starting to PISS ME OFF! And now it's 30 degrees outside... and for someone who tolerates cold weather about as well as a sharp stick in the eye... this weather doesn't make it any easier to break out of whatever this FUNK is!

Any advice?

[Emjaysmash]

Ever wonder why I started smoking Pipes? Exactly this.

You need a few days away from cigars. After that I'm sure you'll feel compelled to relax with one again.

[CoreyD]

have you tried getting something new that you haven't tasted?I know building a smoking area in the storage basement helped my I don't wanna smoke in this cold or even travel to the local B&M for a smoke I myself am a knoob to this hobby so advice is not here but suggestions. I sometimes go a few days in between a smoke but months?

[Bax]

First, there are no stupid questions...only stupid people for asking them:D

Second, I have had this same problem. It comes and goes. A few months off and you'll be back in the saddle again.

[forgop]

See how marriage is changing you already? ;)

[Bill86]

I know exactly where you are, this same thing happened to me about a year ago with drinking. I drank probably 15-20 shots of top shelf a day for 2 years straight. After so much drinking I didn't enjoy it for what it was, it just became routine. I quit-ISH for a year and came back and now everything is much more enjoyable. What I'm guessing happens/ed is you saturate yourself with something so frequent it is a habit/routine and that's where the enjoyment ends. I'd say take a few months off cigar smoking entirely and come back to it.

[Adriftpanda]

Not a stupid question at all buddy.

I've gone through a few phases like this as well. I simply just took a little time off from smoking and focused on other things. Cigars will always be there, they're not going anywhere. Best of luck to you man.

[forgop]

I drank probably 15-20 shots of top shelf a day for 2 years straight.

Easy on the liver...you only have one.

[hotreds]

Not a stupid question at all. What we say here is "like what you smoke, smoke what you like." A corollary to that is "smoke when you want if and when you want." Don't worry about it, you just don't have a hankering for a cigar at this time. Maybe you won't until the weather breaks. Maybe you won't until you go to your next herf. Whatever, I wouldn't worry about it. This is supposed to be enjoyment, if you're not enjoying, don't do it. And, don't worry about it. This is also more proof positive that cigar smoking is not addictive.

So, no sweat, my friend! Certainly there is no point to force yourself to light up. Just go with the flow. Sooner or later, you'll be ready to light one up again. Until that time, don't worry about it!

[Ogre]

Am sure it just a phase. you have so much going on, you never know.

[auburnfan1980]

Jeremy, you're breaking my heart.

[bobarian]

Just take a break. A couple days, weeks or months. No reason to force things. Enjoy the holidays with family and see if things change after the break. :2

[Kreth]

What we say here is "like what you smoke, smoke what you like."
Actually, what's said here is more like: "Like what you smoke, smoke what you like (unless it's a Gurkha)." ;)
Posted via Mobile Device

[Springsman]

You should package up all your stogies and send them to me, I'll adopt them :) LOL

[SvilleKid]

I've gone thru those phases, also. I think some of it has to do with having a bride, and having a life other than cigars. Priorities change and you re-allocate your time to doing things in order of importance. You don't spend as much time out in restaurants and bars as you once did, but you probably don't think about it, so you don't notice it as much! I smoke much, much less when your mother is around. Since it usually takes an hour or so to enjoy most cigar sizes I have, I usually either don't have the time, or don't want to make the time to smoke when she's home. Also, right now, some of it is based on the season change, and the loss of sunlight time. It's depressing to many folks. I'm not immune to it either. I was smoking 2 or three sticks in the afternoons in early fall, but I haven't smoked a cigar in at least three weeks. It probably won't change til springtime. I'll probably smoke a couple of sticks this coming weekend, cause the temperature is supposed to moderate somewhat, but I won't be sitting outside smoking several sticks until the season changes.

If I smoked in the house, it would probably be different. However, I do not enjoy the smell of stale cigar smoke that lingers in my office (and escapes to the LR and Kitchen (somewhat), so I gave up using the office as a smoking lounge years ago. Too many papers and other absorbers or smoke in the office! And, no way to limit those and maintain it as an office. If I ever reclaim the cabin, install the wood stove, I might smoke more in the winter. However, given the early darkness hours, probably not that much.

Just substitute hugging and squeezing the one that you love, and wait til Spring. I'm sure you'll get no arguments from K!!!!

[dwoodward]

I haven't smoked in 2 or 3 weeks. Too cold outside... I am about to start smoking in the garage tho.

[longknocker]

I haven't smoked in 2 or 3 weeks. Too cold outside... I am about to start smoking in the garage tho.

Same Here.:tu I Always Get Excited About Trying A New Cigar I've Never Smoked Before.:tu

[Coach Deg]

See how marriage is changing you already? ;)


X2

[Darrell]

I'm right there. I haven't had the desire to smoke a stick since before my birthday in August.

[AD720]

Happened to me...took a break and enjoyed them again.

[Superbad]

Jeremy,
I am going to guess part of it is due to the new marriage, and part of it is because it is part of your job. Take time off, don't worry about smoking them, and at some point in the future I am sure you will come back to them, or you might not. I took seven years off from cigars, and I was glad when I came back to them. Guess I need to bomb you with some Rum.

[Ranger_B]

As said by M.J I too took up the pipe for this reason. Even with my pipes I go through days or weeks with maybe one or two cigars and a pipe here and there. It is just a phase that all of us fight through. Maybe its our brains giving our palate a chance to relax who knows.

[DonAustin]

Ever wonder why I started smoking Pipes? Exactly this.

You need a few days away from cigars. After that I'm sure you'll feel compelled to relax with one again.

This works well. I find it only takes a couple days and you'll be ready to go back to cigars.

[G G]

I prolly average one or maybe two per week. Sometimes more sometimes less, and I used to kinda stress over it. I quit that nonsense and now if I feel like smoking a cigar I do and if I don't I don't worry about it.

[madwilliamflint]

Yep. "Me Too." I figure I'm just banking rest time on a couple full coolidors.

[muhren]

Very interesting read in this thread! Interesting indeed.

I don't wanna change direction too much, but how many folks are affected by the cold season (26 degrees & snowing here now) and smoke MUCH less. I know that I kinda go into winter hibernation only sneeking a smoke over the holidays at my in-laws (they have a heated 4 season's room). Other than that, the "draw" to smoke kinda fades with me.

I think it may be a seasonal connection in my mind...nice weather = nice cigars. Freezing cold = not so much.

M

[SvilleKid]

As said by M.J I too took up the pipe for this reason. Even with my pipes I go through days or weeks with maybe one or two cigars and a pipe here and there. It is just a phase that all of us fight through. Maybe its our brains giving our palate a chance to relax who knows.

Not sure where Jeremy is with pipes. He smoked them a good bit in college, cause it extended his budget more than cigars. Also smoked them when he was in Tucson. Not sure if he has smoked pipes much in last year or so. Know he has pipes. Not sure about tobacco, or what he prefers in terms of pipe tobaccos.

[neoflex]

I go through this every once in a while and I would say this is pretty normal. Since I started smoking I have gone through this funk more times than I can remember. It just sucks when the funk comes on during prime smoking season and than when you start wanting to get back in the groove it's friggin' cold out.(May not be a big deal if you smoke in your house.) Sometimes just being overloaded with too many obligations will bring this on too. I know a lot of times I really want a smoke but just can't bring myself to smoke one just because I know I have too much on my plate and if I were to go out and smoke a cigar that I wouldn't enjoy it as much as I should simply because I know the whole time I will be thinking about the 30,000 other things I should be doing instead. Long story short I would say your pretty normal and just may be a guy with a lot on your plate right now or just kind of burnt yourself out for the time being. Good luck and I hope to read about how your back in the swing of things again real soon.

[GolfNut]

Not sure about tobacco, or what he prefers in terms of pipe tobaccos.

Nording blends I believe. :tu

[brigey57]

Honestly, Yes I have!

I came back to my cigar stash and found something wonderful. Some of the cigars that I stopped smoking were just fantastic again. I was a very nice surprise. I have a new found love for the sticks that I once became bored with and have a new love for once again.

Okay you can call me nuts!:noon

Has anyone ever gone through a phase where they really just didn't have a desire to smoke any of their cigars?

I mean, honestly, I know this is a cigar board...

But seriously... for like the past month or two I feel just plain robbed of my desire to smoke anything. I can't figure out why.

I have drastically reduced the amount of cigars that I smoke since taking my new job in April and leaving Cigar Retail behind... but I still smoked probably 1 or 2 a day up until about the middle of October.

Since then I can tell you exactly how many cigars I have smoked... THREE.

I still have the same passion for cigars as I did... I know that... but something... something that I can't identify is holding me back. At times when I would normally have said "Ok, I'll grab a stick and step outside and grill some hamburgers." Or "I'll just step outside and smoke just for the sake of burning one." I find myself thinking "Nah, I can smoke one later." OR "Meh, I'm just not in the mood."

Maybe it some stress from the job. Maybe it's trying to find time to spend with my new bride... I dunno. But It's seriously starting to PISS ME OFF! And now it's 30 degrees outside... and for someone who tolerates cold weather about as well as a sharp stick in the eye... this weather doesn't make it any easier to break out of whatever this FUNK is!

Any advice?

[Krish the Fish]

I've had this happen to me over the summer. Got sick of what I had, and ended up selling a lot of things that I regret selling (a box of Boris is the kicker, along with $250 in Opus X that I had been planning on aging for a while). Finally started getting back into it in October.

It happens. Just learn from my mistake and just take a break, make sure you keep maintaining your humidor (water for beads, etc.) and eventually you'll come back.

[icehog3]

Just take a break. A couple days, weeks or months. No reason to force things. Enjoy the holidays with family and see if things change after the break. :2

:tpd: and Bob ain't stupid.

Never force it, smoking cigars should be sheer pleasure, relaxation, enjoyment. When you are ready, you will know it.

[akumushi]

I think this is a very common phenomenon, and the best cure is, as has already been said, to take a break. The great thing about that is that when you come back, your cigars will be aged:tu

[cboor001]

Tons of great input here, and the common thread is relaxing and letting time take its course. I had a spell like this, and found that after backing off the sticks for a while, they tasted that much better when I came back to them. Don't rush it, and don't sell your entire stash just because you don't desire them right now. You might regret that later. Good Luck!!!

[mariogolbee]

Here and there. I've been feeling much less of a desire to smoke cigars lately.

[whodeeni]

Jeremy try smoking in your car/truck on the ride to work or the ride home,
maybe a Change of scenery will do the "trick"! I've found that I can actually smoke more ciigars if I smoke while driving... Not to many days go by where
i don't get to at least smoke "a stick" anymore!

[SvilleKid]

Jeremy try smoking in your car/truck on the ride to work or the ride home,
maybe a Change of scenery will do the "trick"! I've found that I can actually smoke more ciigars if I smoke while driving... Not to many days go by where
i don't get to at least smoke "a stick" anymore!

Won't work. Commutes with his bride. Doubt she'd appreciate him smelling up her car!!!!

[Ogre]

Jeremy, I am sure something will come along that will get you back in the mood. Just have to wait and see. Thats the beauty of cigars, you dont have to have one. Just look at the aging your sticks are getting while waiting. Always a positive side to everything.

[shilala]

First, there are no stupid questions...only stupid people for asking them:D

Second, I have had this same problem. It comes and goes. A few months off and you'll be back in the saddle again.
:tpd:

[jonan]

i went through this too, when i first started smoking cigars a few years ago i went crazy...i bought a humidor, 50 cigars, smoked one or two a week, all of the sudden, i didn't buy or smoke a cigar for almost a whole year...

now, i'm about to get another humidor cause my 100 count is overflowing and i smoke one or two a DAY...

[SmokinCozy]

I'm going through this right now, just not in the mood to smoke. I know I will come out of it as this has happened before

[Ol' Times Cigars]

Never had this happen to me but maybe it is related to the amount you were smoking. I have had times when I've been to the annual IPCPR and just didn't feel like smoking. I get there ready and excited to try all the new stuff but then after one or two you just get smoked out. There is enough cigar smoke in the convention centers to make it feel as if you are smoking one even when youre not. Maybe this is what has happened to you. You smoked so frequently that you just burn yourself out. I limit myself to 1 or 2 a day and sometimes I won't have one, but then there are times when I have an early one and just feel like treating myself to another later on in the day. Just wait it out, maybe have one for whatever holiday you celebrate and one new years eve and see where you go from there.

The stress from the new job should make you want to smoke a cigar and relax. Could be the new bride. My previous girlfriend didn't like the smell of cigars and hated when I smoked, even though thats basically part of my job. My current girlfriend could care less so I find myself smoking more cigars during the day. Not trying to blame it on your wife but whats her attitude toward it? Could be a factor in you decision.

[Chingas]

Damn Jeremy. All the posts are good. Some spot on. But one thing not mentioned is company. Smoking with great company can bring the enjoyment back fully. May I suggest your Dad over the holidays. :tu

Just to rub salt in your wounds, you can't bomb if you dont smoke!:r. I think you'll be lighting up tonight!:r:r

[forgop]

Smoking with great company can bring the enjoyment back fully. May I suggest your Dad over the holidays. :tu



One thing I never really got to do with my dad before he passed, so enjoy it for all it's worth. My dad never really took to cigars at all.

I think they might have a little something to drink now at least. :tu

[Starscream]

I've smoked one cigar in the past two to three months. I'll be back, definitely, but haven't had a desire to smoke right now. Maybe it's b/c of the cigarettes with me though.

[BC-Axeman]

Usually I get too busy to smoke. No hour and a half window ever opens up to stop and relax with a cigar or there is no place to smoke. So I look forward to every chance I get. If I could smoke any time I wanted to I might have a chance to grow weary of it. But for now I can't even relate.

[gvarsity]

With big changes like a new job and being recently married that can really change your priorities in the short term. I have been way down on my cigar smoking since my son was born in July. The same thing happened after my daughter was born two years ago. As the home life settled down my interest and opportunity came back.

[loki]

some times i'll go a week or two without going to the local shop to smoke other times i'm there all the time. that's the great thing about cigars, and pipes for that matter, you can let them sit and as long as you take care of them, they'll still be there for you when you get back

[Ol' Times Cigars]

What was the old job and whats the new job? Are you working harder, longer hours or later? Maybe your just running out of energy during the week.

[B.L. Sims]

Yup, after starting on pipes this summer ive had exactly 1 cigar.

Im giving serious thought to culling most of whats in my vinodor and keeping a few premiums in a small desktop humidor when I get the itch. Im deffnately done smoking "bargain" cigars that are "meh" at best.

[Jbailey]

Never force it, smoking cigars should be sheer pleasure, relaxation, enjoyment. When you are ready, you will know it.

Damn straight!

It's been since the November Mob Herf since I last smoked. For me it's a few things like the cold weather and traveling to a cigar bar. The other thing is I'm more of a social smoker and enjoy having a few drinks and smoke with friends over smoking by myself.

Which is all OK since my cigars won't go bad. They can sit there until I feel like grabbing one of five. :D

[ninjavanish]

What was the old job and whats the new job? Are you working harder, longer hours or later? Maybe your just running out of energy during the week.

I'd rather not reveal that in full but I can tell you that both occupations, old and new, are jobs that I can really enjoy as I most often do.

The previous job was very long hours... with a more than overbearing boss.

The current job is a little more pressure but also less stressful due to a much cooler boss and more room to make my own decisions... in fact I pretty much get to do what I want when I want.

The thing is that I'm very good at what I do now... and I was very good at what I did before.

[Ogre]

I'd rather not reveal that in full but I can tell you that both occupations, old and new, are jobs that I can really enjoy as I most often do.

The previous job was very long hours... with a more than overbearing boss.

The current job is a little more pressure but also less stressful due to a much cooler boss and more room to make my own decisions... in fact I pretty much get to do what I want when I want.

The thing is that I'm very good at what I do now... and I was very good at what I did before.

Just sounds like a life style adjustment. Maybe you associated smoking with your old boss (needing a cigar to relax). I am sure things will change and you will smoke that Mag 48 and it will help :banger. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

[357]

Been there before. The winter months are always slower for me. I'm really a social smoker too. I will not usually smoke alone or when just me and the kids are home. Now that I have a nice heated sunroom I can smoke in, I still am not smoking 1/3 as much as I did in the summer.

I've been here before though. It comes and goes. Keep collecting and buy something outside your comfort zone. When you get the itch back, you'll have something new to try.

[guitar4001]

when it gets cold my cigar "cravings" go away. I am tempted from time to time, but not like in the summer time. If I could get to a good cigar store with a lounge, I would smoke all the time, but alas, that isn't happening.