Let me tell you about my fingernails:
My cousin called them nublets once. She didn’t just call them that actually; she printed the word NUBLETS in all capital letters on a piece of lined paper and drew stars on it, and then taped it to my closet, just in case I forgot that my fingernails have never, not once in my ENTIRE life, grown past the tips of my fingers.
Every year since I was fourteen I have loved making New Years Resolutions. So for seven shiny years, I have made myself the bold promise that THIS would finally be the year that I kick my fingernail biting habit. Clearly this is a problem that has been vexing me—see my 2009 poem: The Biter, for proof.
Here have been my strategies:
- The icky tasting nail polish—But, my problem is so severe, I just bite the bad taste off and then am rewarded by the delectable nail beneath it.
- The incentive program—My mom is still bound by her promise to cash in on a free manicure for me if I can let them grow out. My aunt offered to buy me an entire new OUTFIT if I could kick the habit. Neither of them has had to follow through.
- The Buddy System—I’ve made bets and pacts with fellow nail-biters, that whoever bit first owed the other brownies. I’ve made a lot of brownies.
- I’ve painted them, sat on them, got acrylics (waste of 25 dollars, I usually just bite them off within three days), had people smack my hands away from my lips when they see me “going for it.”
Yet one suspenseful movie or stressful test later, and all my efforts are chewed to bits and I have the familiar, almost comforting sting of stripping my nails too far down.
But now. This time. I AM FOR REAL. I made a missionary friend a promise that I would kick the habit before he got back, and since that is two months from now, I reckon it’s time I start getting serious. Man, did I push this one down to the wire or what? That makes me so nervous the only solace would be to bite…
Friends. I implore you to help me in my quest. How did YOU kick the habit? What are your bad habits?
Truth is, Sierra, I still bite my nails too. Can't stop. When you figure out how to do it, please let me know. 🙂
I'm a nail biter too. Maybe try gum? When you get the urge to chew, throw some gum in your mouth. It might work, I dunno. I've never tried it. :-)By the way, this is Karissa, not Scott. I'm just too lazy to change usernames
You should just paint them black all the time. I wish did more often….
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I sit here in pain. Literally reminded every time I hit the space bar of my similar plight. I was considering doing a post on this as well. I stopped for a month and got a pair of skis from my mom, and then started again. Then I made a deal with a member in Switzerland. If she would stop smoking, I would stop biting. She stopped and then started again. So did I. The longest I have ever gone is a month. Woe is us. You could renew my faith if you pull this off. If you can do it I could too.
Whoever bites first makes the other brownies?
I like the nail polish idea. . . maybe not black though. I am no expert, but the polish might have a taste that reminds you when you absent-mindedly bite.
Finals week is going to be rough. But I love me some brownies. Starting when?
Right now of course.
You're on punk!
Wait…how are we going to know if the other one succeeds or fails? I think we both know the honor system doesn't work when it comes to our predicament.
Maybe limit yourself to one hand, then gradually wean yourself off that one too. You could play guitar, and have the best excuse to bite the nails on your left hand, and then grow your right fingernails out for strumming.
Sierra! i just discovered your blog and I find it delightful. I'm also a nail biter and all I have to say is bite, rip, and repeat. I truly believe that it's the best feeling in the world. Those who say otherwise have never experienced this wonderfully soothing habbit.
I've started keeping myself busy. I bite my nails and have never been able to stop; but since I've started working in food services at a zoo my hands are always to busy for me to bite my finger nails. One day I just noticed that my nails had grown a bit. since then I've been investing a little money in keeping them up. I bought clear nail hardening polish. I use it until I start biting it off, then I remove it. Every time I care for my nails it gives me about three days of no biting; that way when my hands aren't busy I don't want to bit my nails because I know I've invested something in them. I plan on getting myself a manicure when they finaly grow past the ends of my fingures. hopefully I can keep it up after I;m done with work.
… anyway, I guess my advice is: keep your hands busy & invest a little love into your nails anytime you are tempted to nibble.