The Benefits of Stopping Nail Biting and How to Get There

Nail biting and nail picking is a common habit that affects many people, especially during times of stress or boredom. While it may seem like a harmless habit, it can actually have negative consequences for both your physical and mental health. In this article, we will explore the benefits of stopping nail biting and provide tips and tricks to help you break this habit once and for all.

I started biting and mostly picking my nails at a young age. I can’t remember exactly when it started but I certainly remember doing it at young age as a kid. I finally quit at the age of 50.

For me, there was nothing specific I can look back at and say “here’s why I finally quit.” Having said that, I did start this website to try to stop and oddly enough, I did actually quit for good after several months writing on this website.

So in that regard, it probably was the focus I suddenly placed on my nail biting that did help to get me to quit once and for all. And I had several instances in the past where I did quit for a time, only to start the habit again.

Benefits of Stopping Nail Biting

1. Improved Physical Health: Nail biting can cause damage to your nails, cuticles, and surrounding skin, leading to pain, bleeding, and even infections. By stopping nail biting, you can improve the appearance and health of your nails and skin.
   
2. Increased Confidence: Nail biting can be unsightly and embarrassing, especially in social situations. By quitting this habit, you can increase your self-confidence and feel better about your appearance.
   
3. Better Mental Health: Nail biting can be a sign of anxiety or stress, and continuing this behavior can reinforce negative thoughts and feelings. By stopping nail biting, you can improve your mental well being and reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.
   
4. Stronger Immune System: Nail biting can introduce harmful bacteria into your mouth, increasing your risk of illness. By quitting this habit, you can strengthen your immune system and reduce your risk of illness.

Let’s face it: Sticking your dirty fingers in your mouth is gross, too. And picking at your nails makes an annoying sound that others around you do notice, even if you think they don’t notice.

How to Get There And Quit Nail Biting For Good

1. Identify Triggers: Try to identify what triggers your nail biting, such as stress, boredom, or hunger. Once you know your triggers, you can better prepare yourself to resist the urge to bite your nails.
   
2. Keep Your Hands Occupied: Find alternative activities to keep your hands occupied, such as knitting, drawing, or fidgeting with a stress ball. This can help to distract you from the urge to bite your nails.
   
3. Paint Your Nails: Apply a bitter-tasting nail polish to your nails to discourage nail biting. You can also paint your nails with regular nail polish to make them look more attractive and discourage biting.
   
4. Practice Mindfulness: Engage in mindfulness activities, such as meditation or deep breathing, to help you stay focused and reduce stress and anxiety. Then you may feel less likely to use nail biting and picking as your go-to-move, which is what I certainly did.
   
5. Get Support: Consider seeking support from friends, family, or a mental health professional. Talking to someone about your habit can help you stay accountable and provide you with additional strategies to help you quit.

Looking at it another way: If biting or picking your nails is a habit, you need to look at not doing it as your new habit. For me, it suddenly dawned on me after decades of biting and picking my nails that I no longer needed or wanted to do it. Eventually, biting and picking and your nails will no longer even enter your head as something that you need to do.

Final thoughts

Breaking the nail biting habit may take time and effort, but the benefits are well worth it. By following these tips and tricks, you can improve your physical and mental health, increase your confidence, and strengthen your immune system. Stay positive, be patient, and keep working at it. With time and effort, you can successfully quit nail biting for good.

One thing that also should be highlighted: Nail biting and picking is an easy habit to start up again especially under times of stress or whatever your trigger(s) might be. You may have several false starts like I did where you quit and start up again several times. It does take persistence.