I used to twirl my curls... which was cute compared to what it has turned into: pulling out my hair. So now I wear various hats to keep my left hand from finding its way to the back of my head. I literally developed a bald spot in grad school from this habit. It will still rear its ugly head nowadays if I get stressed but I'm pretty good at spotting it before it gets too bad and knit hats are just part of my work life now:)
It would be interested to remember why did you started and how you felt back then when doing it. I'm almost sure that now you don't have the same need/ gain from this habit. It could help in understanding the basic of it. Thanks for the comment:)
Studying and reading. I think it was my way of tolerating the unnatural demands of sitting still for extended periods. Now it creeps up when I have deadlines and a lot of work to do in a short time and have to force myself to sit still and work. Or so it seems... It happens less now, now that I am better at managing time.
how did you enhanced your time management?
That took years to learn; but it was a combination of quitting things like social media (I've been facebook free for 3 years), online shopping, and playing "procrastination" games. Then I started getting my hardest work (i.e. writing) done first thing in the morning so I wasn't "cramming" every night. And specifically, relating to my restless hands, I began doing more activities that engaged both of my hands like gardening, cooking, and crocheting.
A lot of new habits there and a continuous work. I feel you about being restless, it's my biggest saboteur and I try also to use my hands more in physical activities. This calms me down. Thanks for sharing