How To Quit Porn: Top 10 Tips That Helped Me Stop For Good [2024]

Looking to kick your porn addiction for good? Don’t give up trying. If you’re reading this, you’ve likely scoured countless articles and videos on the topic. You understand the consequences of your compulsions or porn addiction, the withdrawal symptoms, and why it’s important to quit. But the question remains: how? I understand your struggle and may have a sense of what you’re going through. It can be discouraging to read motivational quotes and stories only to fall back into a relapse days or months later. But remember, many of us have to fail repeatedly before succeeding.

I will get straight to the point since I know attention spans can be short. Here are my top 10 tips, starting with the method that helped me the most. Give it a try and let me know what you think:

#1 Build yourself up first

What the heck does that even mean?! Let me break it down for you. To improve my well-being, I found it helpful to surround myself with positive and happy thoughts. It’s important to learn how to love yourself in order to appreciate who you are at your core. To achieve this, I draw inspiration from my past, present, and future.

From the past, I recall happy memories that trigger positive sensations. This includes recollections of pleasant scents, sights, and auditory sensations. For instance, I have fond memories as a kid and young man, spending time with family in Hawaii. Even today, coconut smells trigger happy memories, which is why I own coconut scented deodorant, lip balms, skin and hair products that I use in my daily self-care routine. Similarly, I invested in a cologne that reminds me of the confidence and identity that I carried during my university days. I have some amazing memories from my university days, laughing with good company, socializing with friends, and getting a boost of confidence from the compliments I would receive. It is still my favorite cologne this very day, serving as a reminder that there is some beauty in the past.

In the present, I stay present and enjoy moments with loved ones. I write down cool facts, fun stories, or new lessons learned from each day in a journal. This helps me focus on personal growth and not dwell too much on the negatives of the past. I remind myself that each day I am growing wiser and more cultured, focusing on the present rather than dwelling too much on the negative outcomes of my past. When negative thoughts about myself arise, I am tempted to seek comfort in graphic images on my computer. However, this is simply my brain’s unhealthy way of escaping reality. If I am unhappy with who I am or who I am becoming, it is difficult to accept my life as it is. My solution is to be present.

In the future, I always have a goal to work towards. It serves as a reward for my hard work and discipline. For example, I saved up for a new wardrobe that made me feel healthier and more attractive. I also pursued interests in cars, finance, and learning Spanish. These goals gave me a sense of purpose and fulfillment that internet scrolling and pornographic search engines could not provide.

#2 Find things that you love more than porn

Perhaps consider replacing your addiction with a new addiction (I mean, healthier alternative). Engage in activities such as reading, studying, cooking, going for a walk, playing a sport, or spending time with loved ones. You could also try picking up new hobbies like surfing, car repair, or joining workout classes. It’s a good idea to plan ahead to avoid idle hands. Remember, it’s important to keep yourself occupied. If you’re unsure of the consequences of having idle hands, a quick Google search can provide some insight.

#3 Find fun hobbies, embrace new experiences, and stay busy

Have you ever considered exploring alternative sources of love? It’s crucial to meet our dopamine needs, and you’re probably aware of that by now. Personally, discovering new passions and hobbies allowed me to rewire and heal my brain. For instance, I found that doing daily Spanish lessons gave me such a natural high because I was getting better at something. I highly recommend trying a free language skill app like Duolingo to see if it resonates with you. In school and my younger years, reading comprehension was my biggest weakness. However, I refused to let that hold me back from my thirst for knowledge and personal growth. Instead, I challenged myself to exercise my brain muscles and improve my reading skills.

Pushing past old demons and facing adversity gave me a newfound confidence that I could overcome even the deepest habits of my addiction. Engaging in learned activities such as studying new words, languages, and cultures proved to be a valuable distraction from mindless internet scrolling that often triggers a relapse into porn seeking and other addictive behaviors.

#4 Eat healthier and live cleaner

It’s essential to take care of yourself inside and out. If you neglect your physical health, it can affect your overall well-being. Your sexual energy, motivation, and zest for life can decline as a result. It’s no wonder that porn relapses become more frequent in such circumstances.

I learned this firsthand after years of ignoring my skin and dental health. However, after scheduling routine check-ups with my dermatologist and dentist, I began to invest in new skincare and dental routines. By getting braces or Invisalign, you can boost your confidence and improve your overall appearance. Taking care of your health and seeing positive results can be incredibly motivating, encouraging you to treat your body with respect and care. So, take the time to prioritize your health and invest in yourself

#5 Work out

Redirecting your energy towards activities that benefit your mental and physical well-being can provide valuable rewards. Gentlemen, I understand the importance of having a secure and healthy outlet for your accumulated sexual energy. Whether it be participating in a sport or finding a constructive physical pursuit, it is crucial to avoid squandering your energy on idleness, anxiety, and sexual urges. Acknowledge this reality, forgive yourself, and persistently seek out these beneficial activities that will challenge and improve yourself.

#6 Confess it

For years, I struggled with behaviors and addiction that I was too stubborn to discuss with anyone, even my closest friends. However, when I finally confided in a trusted companion, I became more determined than ever to quit. To my surprise, my friend began a 90-day cleanse from masturbation and porn. Hearing about his journey provided me with the support and accountability I needed to personally succeed. This experience taught me the power of social support groups and meetups for like-minded individuals, which can be a great option if you’re hesitant to confide in a close loved one or friend. Having the support of others who understand your struggles can make all the difference in powering through the toughest moments of uncertainty. Remember, you’re not alone in your journey towards self-improvement, and seeking help from those you respect can be a beautiful realization.

#7 Be careful with social media

Engaging in endless swiping and scrolling can easily lead to feelings of anxiety and promote mindless behaviors. Mindless behaviors such as masturbation to porn. These repetitive habits do not serve our brains well, as we do not need more wiring geared towards such addictive behaviors.

#8 Prepare for urges to prevent relapses

Triggers for relapse can include viewing photos or watching videos, particularly ones that add little to no value to your life. These choices and habits should be avoided at all costs. To avoid these negative feelings altogether, it is important to dissociate ourselves from mindless scrolling and have a plan in place to stay productive. By focusing on productive activities, such as reading articles, watching videos on how to fix cars, or researching countries and learning new languages, we can add valuable experiences and knowledge to our lives. By making these activities a daily routine, we can gradually develop a thirst for self-growth, leading to a more fulfilling and purposeful life.

#9 Stay in reflection and have daily affirmations

Write yourself a letter, type yourself a note, or just talk out loud to yourself. Ask yourself who you are and tell yourself what kind of person that you want to be. Imagine who you want to be and dream of how wonderful it will be once you start making these changes. I wrote myself a letter as a reminder of what my health, emotional, travel, fitness, financial, career, and relationship goals were. Having a purpose and goals to strive for often gets us through the most stressful work day, deadlines, and school exams. Who is to say that having a purpose and goals can’t help you overcome a pornography addiction? It surely saved my life.

#10 Stay positive after a relapse

Misery loves company. One relapse that leads to sulking will ultimately lead to another relapse. This is an awful feeling. What is done, is done. You need to move on and know that your best time to quit is NOW. Before your next negative thought creeps up from behind you and before your regret even sets in. Forgive yourself. Binge relapsing is worse than having one relapse.

Final thoughts

I would love to hear about your success story and tips that helped you overcome your urges! How did you beat your addiction to porn and masturbation? I encourage you to share your testimony on this web space, or any other internet channel for that matter. A huge part of my daily drive to live a healthy porn free life is knowing that I am not alone in this journey and that we are healing together!