It has been proven that it take 20 days to form a habit and 20 days to break it. Though I do believe, the saying goes 20 days to form a habit and a lifetime to break it. With the different types of habits, I am guessing it is going to be different with each of them. Take for example Smoking; to quit smoking you have to have help the chemical dependency is rough. It is the same with drugs until that particular chemical is out of your system it will be excruciating. You will need help. Let us face it there is a complete difference between drug use and elbows on the table.

Whereas for some habits can be remedied such as nose picking, bad manners, popping chewing gum, not brushing your teeth. Some just need assistance. A remedy for remembering your pills or to brush your teeth is as simple as setting a daily alarm for it. After 20 to 30 days, you will feel something is wrong should you not do the task.

Once you receive help for smoking and drugs, you will need major will power. You never stop craving these habits but you build up your will power for it. Some people who smoke will stick a picture of their kid or spouse on the front of their pack. This way every time they pick up the pack their photo is staring at them. It is a great deterrent.

If you really want to stop, have a reason to. For your children, spouse, mother, health, law, etc... Something that means the world to you is the best.

My suggestion for smokers is to take note of how many you smoke on average. Then just cut back one a day one a week, it will be gradual and hurt less. In theory, it would also work with eating habits and drugs.

By the Way, for those (like me) who want to lose weight. It is easy DONT STOCK THE CRAP. Your family really does not need it either. I know that I am deterred for my cravings if I have to go out to get it. Therefore, I find something else to satisfy or I forget about it. (Note this does not apply to pregnant women; never deny them anything if you value your life)

With all the different things, that everyone thinks is a bad habit. You can never be sure how to quit or even stop. Nail biting, nose picking, thumb sucking, teeth clicking, nail tapping, spit talking, etc...

So how do you stop once you know it is annoying? That is IF you want to stop.

Let us start with the nail biting: for children or adults it is simple, wash your hands in a soap that does not taste anywhere near pleasant. Dip your fingers in something you do not like. Such as lemon or limejuice, a menthol time of lotion.

You can do the same thing for nose picking as you can for the nails. Who wants to have to smell something so nasty?

Again, for the thump sucking see nail biting.

What it comes down to is that if you know it is annoying unless you are an inconsiderate and rude it will matter to you if what you do is annoying. The effort is all you really need to quit. There are things we do that are annoying that we do not even know we are doing. In this case patience is what is needed here constant reminders and so forth.

However, we also have to realize sometimes that people will not change. Let us face the fact that there are simply people born to be jerks.

Drinking and smoking really is a different thing all together. With these habits, you will need help. They are addictive and hard to quit. Smoking has chemicals, which make them addictive. Keep in mind it is not the tobacco that is bad for you. It is the arsenic, rat poison, paint thinner and other fillers. A strong need to quit is all you need to quit but it takes time.

As for drinking well here you have the need to feel nothing or relax, you take a drink, not quiet relaxed you take another and another. Then there are those who drink for the flavor and do not realize they are drinking so much. Then there are those that drink to drown out pain and misery. Here is the thing the longer you drink the more it will take for the effects of alcohol to affect you. This does not mean you are not over the alcohol limit for driving just that it will take more to numb you. Really, the issue here is to be aware and deal with your issues so that you can be healthy. Yeah ok easier said than done. Again find the motivation, for your family, children, health, work, and the most important YOU do if for you. Cirrhosis is extremely painful.

Take initiative, you control your life it does not control you!