How do you stop habits?

Question

I bite my nails. How can I stop?

Answer 1

just stop.

Answer 2

put some nice nail polish on them. if you bite them, the nail polish will come off and your nails will look like a mess.

also, try putting something on them, like hand cream. when you go to bite your nail, you'll taste the cream and it'll taste terrible.

if it doesn't have a taste, put a stronger cream on it. :]

Answer 3

I believe stores sell nasty tasting nail polish, or

*mix Tabasco in with your polish

*treat yourself to a really nice manicure that you won't want to ruin

*try chewing gum

*rent hypnosis tapes from the library

*try to figure out if it is caused by something else, such as anxiety, and treat the cause

Answer 4

I was a hard core nail biter for nearly 18 years.  What stopped me was getting a job at the local grocery store as a cashier.  Once I saw how much filth washed off of my hands during breaks from handling all that money, I had absolutely no desire to stick my hands in my mouth.  Along those lines, maybe you could read up on how dirty stuff you touch regularly is, or start a hobby like gardening, which is relaxing, but tends to make your nails kinda gunky.  And I completely second getting a nice manicure once you've stopped for a few days.  It is a nice reward and a good deterent.

Good luck

Answer 5

cut them off

Answer 6

put a rubber band on your rist and tell people to pull and snap it when they cacht u biting

Answer 7

Put poison on your nails

Answer 8

You have to really, really want to first.  Then, I suggest you take up a hobby to keep your hands busy, like knitting, sewing, painting, etc.

Answer 9

Well It takes 21 days to develope a habit so If you tried really hard to stop biting your nails for 21 days your body would know not to do that any more. But here is the scientifical way;

1. Understand and admit to yourself that you have a bad habit. You won't get anywhere unless you can admit this fact. Ask yourself:

What is my bad habit?

Why can't I get rid of it?

What things stop me from getting rid of it?

2. Decide how you will break your habit. Here's a good method: Every time you catch yourself preparing to bite your nails, suck your thumb, or whatever else you do, stop yourself and make a mark on a calendar. If you really stick to your goal, you will see the number of marks steadily decrease over time.

3.Build your own "NO-SMOKING" zone : Find someone you like who disapproves of your habit. Tell yourself you will not indulge in the act whenever you are around that person. If you like the person enough, you will find yourself having less desire to go back to the habit. Use the person as an anchor. Just be around this person whenever you feel like controlling the urge. (This doesn't neccasarily mean you can't be around this person when indulging in the undesired habit, just try to use their dislike of the habit to fuel your own will to quit)

4.Capitalize on other negatives: Use any other clashing habit or negative about yourself to combat the habit. For instance, if you're lazy, be lazy about your habit. Think of it as too much effort. If you're a smoker, keep your pack locked up in your car down the street. Then you'll find it easy to be too lazy to go get one.

5.Try to replace your habit with something new and positive in your life. The key is not to focus on the "not doing", but to think instead about "doing". Instead of thinking about missing that piece of chocolate cake after dinner, think about how good it is going to feel to take a long walk without all that sugar in your system.

6. Reward yourself. Once you have gone a week or so with no marks on the calendar, buy yourself a sundae, go shopping, eat at a fancy restaurant, or whatever makes you happy.

7.Forgive yourself when you slip: Don't beat yourself up if you end up falling into the habit again. Pick yourself up and try again. Your efforts have not been wasted and you have not lost any ground. With every attempt you make yourself stronger.



So enjoy not biting your nails