Breaking Habits

[RkyMtnHigh 0]

It's easy to develop habits, yet so difficult to break them.

For example, biting my nails. I've done it all my life and I really dislike that I do it. So in an effort to stop biting my nails, I am trying to figure out a way to catch myself when I'm doing it and replace it with something else just not sure what yet. I thought perhaps every time I realize I'm nailbiting, I could drop to the floor and do situps or pushups which would be a healthy replacement, but wouldn't be appropriate in public.

Other habits are time related such as a routine of doing the same thing every day at 5pm, 7pm and 10pm. It's just human conditioning.

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[Dumpster 0]

We (the 1st wife and I) used to put this nasty-tasting nail polish on our girls to break them of the nail-biting habit. After 30 days, no problemo.

Easy Does It

[steveorino 7]

Sometimes, repetitive habits (nail biting, hair twisting) are brought on from early childhood issues. Dealing with those old issues may help some people break repetitive habits.

steveOrino

[lawrocket 3]

And sometimes, repetitive habits are based on what has worked in the past.

I think wiht stuff like what Katee is talking about, you need to have someone there to say, "Hey! You just did that again." My wife is excellent for that. 762 habits gone, x more habits to deal with.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[Katz 0]

Have you figured out what triggers the nail biting? Perhaps if you can determine the trigger, you can change the response. I used to chew the sides of my fingers next to the nail. Switched to chewing rubber bands. They were awful. I stopped chewing the rubber bands and my fingers.

PMS #330 MB #4014

"Be who you are and say what you feel...Because those that matter...don't mind...and those that mind...don't matter."

[Nightingale 0]

What works for me:

On a friday after work, put those cotton moisture gloves on your hands with a lot of lotion inside. Only take the gloves off to shower, etc, for the whole weekend. If you can't get to your nails, you won't chew them. Doing this friday, saturday, sunday will break the cycle of biting, and allow your nails and cuticles some time to heal so you won't be so tempted to bite.

Next, file your nails and oil your cuticles. Even if your nails are still really bitten, use a file as best you can to smooth out the rough edges.

Finally, and most important, paint your nails bright red. Fire engine red. It looks awful if they're all bitten up, but the bright color acts like a stop sign to your brain. Then, as a topcoat, use the nail biter polish you can buy in the grocery store.

Every so often you might relapse if you're really stressed out about something, and that's okay, because stopping the second/third time around is much easier than the first, and you'll look at your hands and be annoyed with yourself for ruining your pretty nails. Once you get used to having nails, and having your hands not hurt, it's a really big incentive not to bite again.

Course, having a friend around to smack your hand out of your mouth if you're biting and don't realize it is helpful too.

Edited to add: keep your hands busy. Learn how to knit, cross stitch, crochet, whatever. Just have something else in your hands while you're watching TV, because you're more likely to bite when you're not doing anything else with your hands. Keep the gloves around for times like finding yourself biting while you're reading a book/magazine or something else where you do need to use your hands a little bit.

[Richards 0]

Every time I leave the house i run around checking the faucets, lights, oven etc out of fear that I am going to leave something on. I also check several times that the door is locked before I can comfortably walk away and yet I am always nervous that I have forgotten something.

Drives my wife crazy.

Richards

My biggest handicap is that sometimes the hole in the front of my head operates a tad bit faster than the grey matter contained within.

[cocheese 0]

I have a habit of thinking of/about you. Is that good or bad?

[RkyMtnHigh 0]

Grrrrrrrrrr....almost a year later..no change. I still bite my nails.

Any new creative ideas to stop this habit?

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[Squeak 17]

Quote

Grrrrrrrrrr....almost a year later..no change. I still bite my nails.

Any new creative ideas to stop this habit?

Dip them in dog poo

That what my dad threatened to do to mine when i was a wee lad. I'm 44 and still bite them

The "Stop n Grow" stuff does not owrk for me. The active ingredient is qunine, I lovew that stuff, it's the bitter in Letter Lemon and indian tonic water so ibite my nails more if i use it

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[popsjumper 2]

I was a nail biter.

To me it was simple. I just made up my mind one night that I wasn't going to do it anymore...never have since.
Will power. It just has to come from within. The mind is a strange critter.

One of these days, hopefully, I'll make up my mind to quit smoking.

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[2fat2fly 0]

You can tie both hands behind your back. If you do this while wearing a leather bra and spike heels you can set up a webcam and turn it into a money making endeavor

I am not the man. But the man knows my name...and he's worried

[cocheese 0]

Try to stop worrying so much about everything. If you can do that, things will go better and you'll have less to worry about.

Yea, I still have my habit above from last year, but I don't bite my nails over it.

[DougH 270]

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You can tie both hands behind your back. If you do this while wearing a leather bra and spike heels you can set up a webcam and turn it into a money making endeavor

How will she tie her own hands behind her back? I could come over and help.

"The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall"
=P

[d_squared431 0]

Treat yourself to a manicure every week and then you won't want to bite your nails....See easy fix...

TPM Sister#130ONTIG#1
I love vodka.I love vodka cause it rhymes with Tuaca~LisaH
You having a clean thought is like billyvance having a clean post.iluvtofly

[RkyMtnHigh 0]

Quote

Quote

Grrrrrrrrrr....almost a year later..no change. I still bite my nails.

Any new creative ideas to stop this habit?

Dip them in dog poo

That what my dad threatened to do to mine when i was a wee lad. I'm 44 and still bite them

The "Stop n Grow" stuff does not owrk for me. The active ingredient is qunine, I lovew that stuff, it's the bitter in Letter Lemon and indian tonic water so ibite my nails more if i use it

I never noticed that quinine was the active ingredient in the bitter nail stuff...NOW it makes sense why it hasn't worked for me either!I used to love gin & tonic..esp the tonic water with a lime.

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[DiamondGirl 0]

Quote

Treat yourself to a manicure every week and then you won't want to bite your nails....See easy fix...

This is what finally worked for me. Now I just get pissed off when my polish gets gross from cigs. I have yet to figure out a way to take care of that habit

~* Quae Sursum Volo Videre *~

[Lastchance 0]

When I was young I had this prob every winter of my lip splitting and it was very painful and I could never get it to heal cuz I was always licking it to keep it moist with opposite effects. My granddad told me to go out in the pasture and find a fresh cow pie and spread some on my lip. When I asked him how that would help he replied "It won't help but it will keep you from licking your lips.' NOW TO YOUR PROBLEM. I chewed my nails from the time I had four front teeth according to my mom. I went to work at a sewage treatment plant cleaning out a settling pond about four years ago. That cured me. So what you have to do is dip your fingers in shit on a daily basis[

I may be getting old but I got to see all the cool bands.

[PLFXpert 0]

Quote

And sometimes, repetitive habits are based on what has worked in the past.

I think wiht stuff like what Katee is talking about, you need to have someone there to say, "Hey! You just did that again." My wife is excellent for that. 762 habits gone, x more habits to deal with.

So true!

Most of my habits are good until they annoy someone. For example, ever since I was little, any time I close a door I lock it automatically. As a child I locked my father out a billion times. And now Billy has the pleasure of getting locked out quite frequently.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.