What's an effective way to break a habit?

[Horse-girl]

I've picked my nails ever since I can remember. I only do it when I'm anxious but I've tried to stop and managed for a month or so until something happened to make me anxious again. Do you have any tips on how to stop? Thank you. 😊

[SnowedIn]

For nails specifically, if you bite them you can buy the nasty tasting stuff to paint on them. That's worked for my kids!

For just picking, like many habits identify what is the trigger. Then, when the trigger hits, replace it with something else or, because you've recognized it, you can work against it. You've broken the habit. It's a habit because we can be on autopilot.

[The_Shadow_Dweller]

Seems you read Hyperfocus by Chris Bailey!

[SnowedIn]

@The_Shadow_Dweller ... actually, that is not one I've read. Is it good?

[Horse-girl]

I used to bite them but then started picking them. It happens whenever I get anxious.

[SnowedIn]

My off the cuff thought would be keep a small stress ball or a fidgit/poppit with you. Be conscious of when you do it and reach for those instead of nails.

[Horse-girl]

That's a good idea, I did read somewhere about having a hair bobble on your wrist and making it ping on your wrist to snap yourself out of it, I haven't tried it though.

[The_Shadow_Dweller]

Yes, that book is good. Practical. With steps to follow.
It is not filled with any reference story of some person. Just, what is required.

[SnowedIn]

@Horse-girl ... the hair thing def works for some people! :) Great idea.

[SnowedIn]

Thank you for MHO!

[Horse-girl]

You're very welcome. 😊

[Rainbow_Warming]

Prolonged fasting works in multiple ways: develops willpower, and you become too weak to do unnecessary movements. Though I'm sure you already do a certain version of it since you were familiar with doctor Mercola lol. Maybe replace it with something beneficial, do pushups whenever you have the urge lol.

[Horse-girl]

I don't really do fasting, I have done a bit of intermittent fasting but that's it. That's a good idea with the pushups although I'm not sure how easy it would be to do in certain circumstances.

[Anonymous]

Create subliminal audio at 17500 Hz with a script that instructs your subconscious to stop picking your nails without actually saying it directly. Listen for about 21 days and eventually you will just stop doing it.

These are the instructions of how to create it I prefer to use my own voice rather than the Text-to-Speech engine though:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Subliminal/comments/sb99np/how_to_create_a_subliminai_recording_requires_pc/

[Horse-girl]

That's a clever idea.

[Opinion Owner]

Science shows it works. I did the same for a little gray hair I had and after 16 days it started to change color. The existing gray hair simply reverted to black. A friend of mine also used the same for weight loss and when she went to the fridge to pick up some junk food, she found more of an urge to go for the healthy stuff. It sounded like an odd experience though.

[Horse-girl]

That's pretty amazing.

[jennifer_bloom]

Maybe bring a pencil or plastic key chain with you every where you go and play with the pencil or the key chain instead of biting your nails. One thing I do to let go of stress is I collect scenic pictures on my phone and scroll through them when I need something to do at a doctors office or while waiting to be seated at a restaurant or while riding a bus.

[MCheetah]

PAIN! Have someone kick you in the crotch when you f*ck up! Although that's kind of pointless for females, as crotch kicks do nothing to them.

[AmyHew1tt]

I have that too, it's super annoying.

[misogynistic_pig]

Investigate what is in the nails.

[Horse-girl]

What do you mean?