What are your bad habit replacements?

Do you have things that you do that keep you from engaging in your bad habits? Like knitting instead of picking at your nails? What works for you?

Wearing a mud mask is one of my habit replacements for picking my face.

Riding my bike is a good habit replacement for all my picking.

Exercise is a good habit replacement for me, both in the moment & after, because I expend some of that energy that would go into fueling my bad habits and it can last a little while.

I’ve been riding my bike at least twice a day lately: a lovely morning ride when I mostly see the little animals and nature and then again in the afternoon to retrieve the mail which isn’t as relaxing because of cars and people, but I enjoy getting out again anyway and making myself useful.

I’ve also been coloring in the afternoons, which keeps my hands and brains busy.

I want to stop picking at myself because I’m trying to get a job and I think I’ll have a better shot if I don’t look like I’m on meth because of scabby skin sores. I want to make my own money again and get a break from being around my family all the time. But I’m not forcing it. If it doesn’t happen, I’ll do something else.

Famous last words.

Standing over the bathroom sink icing my face is a habit replacement for standing over the bathroom sink picking my face. Making fists with my hands is a habit replacement for picking my skin & nails. Cleaning is a habit replacement for all my picking.

I started painting the last two days. Painting is a habit replacement for all the picking. I paint in an old composition book with watercolor, ink, & liquid acrylics. I set a timer for 20 mins, then stop. I am using up the watercolor, ink, & liquid acrylics too, added bonus.

Brushing the cat, when the cat allows it, is a good habit replacement for all the picking. I have more success in the morning, first thing, during tea.

Shredding scratch paper with my hands is a habit replacement for all the picking. Ripping up junk mail with my hands is very satisfying, I don’t know why.