Nail picking and finger picking is a common habit that can be difficult to break. Here are some strategies that may help you stop picking your nails:
Identify triggers of picking your nails
Pay attention to the situations or emotions that lead you to pick your nails. Once you have identified these triggers, you can take steps to avoid or manage them. Do you only pick your nails or the skin around your nails when you are in a high-stress situations?
Keep your nails trimmed
Shorter nails may be less tempting to pick. Keep a nail clipper handy in case of an unexpected hangnail. We really love this nail clipper and accessory pack that fits right in your bag or pocket. Keeping it with you can help prevent picking nails and hangnails since you can trim them as needed.
Find a substitute for nail picking
Consider finding an alternative activity to do with your hands, such as squeezing a stress ball or playing with a fidget toy such as a Pick ‘N Peel Stone kit that mimics the feeling of skin picking and peeling.
Keep your hands busy
Keeping your hands busy with other tasks can also help prevent nail-picking. For example, you could try knitting, cooking or drawing. This goes hand-in-hand with using a fidget or sensory toy as well.
Practice mindfulness
Try to become more aware of when you are picking your nails or the skin around them and redirect your attention to something else. It is very easy to start and only stop once you start bleeding. This can cause issues such as infection, so being aware of when you fall into the skin picking habit is crucial.
Seek professional help
If nail picking or finger picking is interfering with your daily life or causing distress, consider seeking help from a mental health professional. They can provide strategies and support to help you stop the habit.
Remember, breaking a habit can take time and effort, so be patient and kind to yourself as you work to stop picking your fingernails or the skin surrounding them.