How To: Break Bad Habits
Believe it or not, this is not a habit that only plagues young children. Many adults suck their thumbs or other fingers. They do it out of habit or comfort, and at first it may seem quite inoffensive, even sexy when women do it. But beware of the microbes. Also, thumbsuckers may develop dental problems such as the deformity of their top teeth.
If such is the case, you may want to consider acquiring oral devices that act as a reminder. Some devices feature spikes that hurt invading digits or trap them in a cage. Unpleasant substances can also be applied to the thumb. Again, keep your hands busy to avoid being relegated to shoving your thumb into your mouth.
There are two schools of thought regarding the subject. The first one states that cracking knuckles is absolutely harmless, while the second one asserts that it leads to arthritis. The truth is somewhere in between as the abusive cracking of knuckles will in fact contribute to the inflammation of the joints; the noise comes from imploding gas bubbles, but in the long run your ligaments are subject to undue stress.
While the medical drawbacks are limited, it's usually those nearby who will become annoyed by this one. The only effective way to cease doing it is to keep your hands busy and apart from each other.
Bruxism is mostly done subconsciously and at night. It causes the jaw to become sore and the teeth to become worn and sensitive. In some cases, it even leads to headaches. A dentist can prescribe a gum shield that guards your teeth against mistreatment. During the day, chew gum to give your jaw another hobby.
Do I have to point out the social and hygienic snags of nose picking? You're in a meeting, you go in for the pot of gold, and everyone turns to you. Yes, you are on the fast track to that promotion. Right. Keep tissues on your person for those dire moments. If you still can't help yourself, wear a bandage on your felonious finger; it will then be more difficult to insert it.
Mostly innocuous, it can sometimes become an affliction. It can cause soreness, dryness, and the skin can peel off. Dentists can provide splints to keep you from doing it in your sleep. During daylight hours, you might want to use foul-tasting lip balm that will keep your teeth and tongue away from your lips. Chewing gum is also an option.
We've all done it at one time or another; the habit usually stems from our school days when we were so bored that masticating our writing material was the only solace we could foresee. Pens and pencils are crawling with germs so you must do this at your own peril, not to mention that it's not an attractive habit at the office. If it becomes a problem for you, coat the writing utensil with Tabasco sauce. Moreover, chewing gum might be enough for your mouth to handle.
stop it for goodIn the end, you must remember that the best tool to break a bad habit is determination. If you want to get rid of it badly enough, you will give yourself the right instruments and you will succeed.
If all fails, give self-help tapes or hypnosis a try, or consult a professional. Your habit of reading my column is one you can keep.