It's a very easy task. Move your stuff and accounts to a different provider in the pace you prefer, and set gmail to forward to the new provider. Keep your gmail account around as a haunted house for the occasional messages that can only come through that way.

Compare it to somebody who eats fast food every day. They can start eating healthy instead, but it doesn't mean that they are never allowed to eat fast food again, or even once per week if so be.