It can also help to curb other bad habits like spending much time on the internet, biting your nails or oversleeping.
If you find you’re the type that’s unable to help yourself from gobbling down an entire family block of Cadbury chocolate in one sitting, this may be the solution for you.
Amazon has released a nifty little product called ‘Pavlok‘, which is a wrist band that resembles a Fitbit, which aims to help break habits like smoking, biting nails, or eating junk food by gently shocking the user when they commit a bad habit.
And if you’re worried about the safety of such a device, according to the inventor, “It feels like if you were to touch a doorknob after rubbing your socks on the carpet,” he told ABC News.
It also allows others to have control over administering the 350-volt shock, with an app available that gives friends the power to zap you if they catch you indulging in something you shouldn’t.
According to the product’s description,
“Pavlok allows you to speak your reptile brain’s language by adding an unpleasant element (a safe and harmless ‘zap’ of electricity on your wrist) to what you have been taught to love (your nasty lingering habit), quickly conditioning your mind to associate an ‘unpleasant’ feeling with your bad habit… and stopping it altogether.”
Retailing at $199, it isn’t the cheapest way to quell a bad habit, and reviews on the product are divided, with one user writing on the product’s review section:
“Life-changing product, perfect for anyone looking to break a habit, wake up on time, or improve life in general.”
Another user had a less impressive review on the Pavlok, saying:
“Good idea, but the product isn’t ready. I had to return mine because it stopped working after a few days. Even when it worked, it was super buggy.”
You can check out the product on Amzon for yourself here.
