Understand Your Triggers
First things first, find out what’s causing your stress. Understanding the cause is the first step to resolving this habit. If your nail biting is due to anxiety, try different coping mechanisms to relax your mind. Common examples include:
- Deep breathing: Breath in for four counts, hold it, then exhale for six counts.
- Journaling: Try stream of consciousness writing to get your thoughts out onto paper.
- Walking: Walking through nature and exercising is great for the mind.
There are many activities to improve mental health for you to try in the comfort of your home. Once you’ve established a routine for yourself, stick to it. Pay attention to whether you’re biting your nails after finding your ideal way of relaxing your mind. Because once you find what works, you’ll want to stick with it!
Get a Manicure
Getting a manicure is a preventive method and an act of self-love. Chances are, the urge to bite your nails isn’t as strong when you spend your hard-earned money on a manicure. Another reason is you won’t want to mess up your beautiful nails. Also, one of the best ways to make a manicure last is to stop nail biting altogether.
When you go to the salon for a manicure, one tip is to have your nails cut short then styled. It’s harder to bite your nails when they don’t have length, but they’ll still look beautiful!
Busy Yourself
Some nail bitters do so because they’re bored; stress isn’t always the cause. Whether it’s related to a nervous tic or boredom, another way to stop biting your nails is to keep your hands and mouth busy. Many recommend chewing gum. While some find the smooth texture of a worry stone calming, others prefer using a fidget spinner or clicking a pen to busy their hands.
