How I did it: My biggest thing was biting my nails subconsicously.  I wouldn't even realize I was doing it and once I had people honestly telling me that it bothered them to watch me do it or to <shudder> hear it, then I became hyper aware of when I was biting them.  I paid attention to the activities that I was doing whie biting them and how I was feeling.  My mother said I did it because I was nervous, but when I paid attention it was more because I was bored. 

Lessons & tips: *I enlisted the help of other people in my life; my husband, my parents, even my children at the school I worked at helped me.
*I made it a goal with my kids.  I noticed several of them needed to stop biting theirs as well so we worked on it together reminding each other to stop.
*I did other things when I was bored.  Watching t.v. or playing a video game absentmindedly were my worst times so I limited those activities and realized that if I was bored while I was 'relaxing' then it wasn't relaxing at all.
*I took pride in my nails appearance.  I got a nail file and instead of biting away at a snag I filed it.  It took away the satisfaction and gave me a healthier attitude.
*I didn't give up if I messed up once or twice.  Other attempts I had made were sabotaged by me accidentally biting one without thinking so instead of throwing it all away I forgave myself and kept trying.

Resources: I used a nail file mostly because I don't know how to paint my nails well. I am going to treat myself to my first non-acrylic manicure as a reward when I go on vacation.

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Feb 19, 2009, 02:16PM PST | 0 comments | 1 cheer