The amount of time it takes to form a habit can vary greatly. While some sources claim it only takes 21 days, a study by the European Journal of Social Psychology found that it can take anywhere between 18 and 254 days. This is because it largely depends on the individual and their specific circumstances. Those who are more dedicated tend to be able to establish new habits faster. Similarly, breaking a bad habit takes time and effort, as breaking and forming new habits are closely related. According to Professor Timothy Pychyl, an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Carleton University, "breaking a habit means establishing a new habit."
However, it's important to note that breaking a bad habit can take significant time, with Professor Pychyl estimating that most bad habits cannot be broken in less than six months. Given the difficulty of breaking bad habits, it's important to explore various methods for overcoming the habit negatively impacting your life. With that in mind, if you're looking to stop biting your nails, here are seven tips. Keep in mind that it may take some time for these strategies to take effect.
Determining the Culprit
It is an important first step in breaking it. Some people may bite their nails due to seeing or feeling a hangnail or because they dislike the appearance of jagged or uneven nails. However, it's important to keep in mind that biting off more than just the broken portion of the nail can cause further damage. Others may bite their nails due to emotional triggers, such as anxiety, stress, or boredom. If this is the case for you, it's important to be aware of when these feelings most often occur and are more mindful of the habit during those times. For example, if you find yourself biting your nails while watching TV on the couch or when feeling stressed at work, being more aware of these triggers can help you resist the urge to bite.
Trim your Nails
This can be especially helpful if your trigger for biting is uneven nails, jagged tips, or hangnails. By keeping a nail clipper, cuticle trimmer, and nail file on hand, you'll be able to address these issues without resorting to biting. Additionally, having shorter nails makes it more difficult to bite, which can further discourage the habit. Many of these tools are small and easy to carry, making them convenient to use whenever the need arises. They are also inexpensive and can be purchased easily online.
Keep your Hands Busy
When you feel the urge to bite, for instance, if you tend to bite your nails while watching TV, you could try knitting or doing a puzzle instead. If stress or anxiety is a trigger, you could try using a fidget toy, which can help you break the habit and alleviate some of your anxious thoughts. There are many types of fidget toys available, such as the Fidget Dodecagon, a 12-sided toy that can be purchased for less than $10 on Amazon. Alternatively, you could try replacing your bad habit with a more positive one, such as running or cooking, which will distract you from biting your nails and improve your overall well-being.
Polish Your Nail. Bitter
Applying nail polish with a bitter taste is one of the easiest ways to prevent yourself from biting your nails out of habit. You won't want to continue biting because the flavor will be shocking at first, and this will discourage you.
You can always use this product because it can be applied over polish or to your natural nails. However, you will need to reapply for this product regularly if you want it to work. It may be easy to let the bitter taste subside to the point where you can bite again. The intention is for you to come to associate biting your nails with a bitter taste, allowing you to eventually kick the habit permanently without using polish.
Visit Nail Salon Regularly
Another way to prevent yourself from biting your nails is to keep them in perfect condition. Make more trips to the salon to accomplish this. If you paint your natural nails regularly, it might motivate you to keep them looking and feeling their best. However, you could also cover them with gel polish or acrylic nail tips, making it harder for you to bite.
Consider learning how to do your nails at home if you don't have the time or money to visit the salon regularly. In addition to assisting you in better nail care, investing in salon tools could also keep your hands busy, which would help you break the habit. You could, for instance, paint your nails rather than biting them while watching television.
Consider What's Underneath Your Nails
If nothing else works, investigate the things that are most likely beneath your nails. Dead skin cells, dirt, bacteria, germs, and diseases could be stuck there, according to The Herald-Times. As a result, you are allowing these germs to enter your mouth and risk getting sick every time you bite them. Michael Shapiro, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Vanguard Dermatology in New York City, told Shape, "Your fingernails are almost twice as dirty as your fingers." It is common for bacteria to become entangled under the nails, where it can spread to the mouth and infect the gums and throat.
Additionally, because germs and diseases are invisible, washing your hands alone is insufficient to remove these substances, and keeping dirt out of under your nails is insufficient.
Be mindful of what could be hiding under your fingernails whenever you feel the urge to bite. A conscious effort to be mindful of this may be just what you need to stop your unhelpful habit.
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