Bad Hygiene & Body Habits
Nail biting, skin picking, teeth grinding: body-focused habits are among the most common and the most shame-laden. They're also among the most fixable, because they run on predictable cues. And some of them (looking at you, knuckle cracking) turn out not to be bad at all.
Nail biting
Worth breakingBiting your fingernails or the skin around them, usually without noticing you've started.
Knuckle cracking
Actually finePopping your knuckles by stretching or bending your fingers until they crack.
Hair pulling
It dependsPulling out hair from your scalp, eyebrows, or eyelashes, often during idle or focused moments.
Cheek biting
It dependsBiting or chewing the inside of your cheek, often while concentrating or feeling tense.
Lip licking
Worth breakingRepeatedly licking your lips, usually in response to dryness or as a nervous habit.
Skin picking
It dependsPicking at pimples, scabs, bumps, or the skin around your nails, often on autopilot.
Nose picking
Worth breakingUsing a finger to clear or scratch the inside of your nose, usually out of habit.
Brushing too hard
Worth breakingScrubbing your teeth with heavy pressure or hard bristles, as if more force meant cleaner.
Mouth breathing
Worth breakingHabitually breathing through your mouth instead of your nose, especially during sleep.
Not flossing
Worth breakingSkipping flossing, leaving the spaces between your teeth uncleaned day after day.
Teeth grinding
Worth breakingClenching or grinding your teeth, during the day or (very commonly) while you sleep.
Thumb sucking
It dependsSucking the thumb for comfort, most common in babies, toddlers, and young children.
Touching your face
Worth breakingResting hands on your face or rubbing your eyes, nose, and mouth throughout the day.
Breaking a habit sticks when you track the replacement.
Decide what you'll do instead, then track it daily. A visible streak turns one good decision into a system.
Start tracking free on HabitTracker.io →