7 Bad Habits That Are Good For You

Do you have a bad habit that you constantly feel guilty about?

The good news is that when some of the bad habits are carried out in moderation, they may benefit your psychological or physical well-being and produce great and productive results.

Here are seven habits that you should not worry about.

1. Daydreaming

Many times, daydreaming is considered a waste of time and associated with laziness and procrastination.

Research has however shown that the ‘executive network’ in our brain is highly active when we’re daydreaming. Also, the sleepiness that is associated with daydreaming can boost your brainpower.

The areas of our brain used while we daydream are the same ones that help with complex problem-solving.

2. Gossiping

People love to hear a good story or a secret. In an era where mental illness and stress-related diseases are on the rise, sharing other people’s news has a whole range of mood-boosting benefits.

Gossip can help you bond with whomever you’re speaking with. It can help you learn a bit more about the individuals and situations around you, and laughing over some scandalous story can release feel-good hormones that help combat stress and anxiety.

Researchers have found that most people’s mood improved for up to four hours after spending just 20 minutes gossiping with a friend. A whopping 96% of people were able to reduce tension and anxiety this way.

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3. Drinking coffee

Coffee is said to have a negative effect on our health if taken excessively. It is said to cause cardiac problems and stunting growth, even affecting the quality of sleep.

However, for those who can’t imagine back-to-back meetings without caffeine in their system, here is some good news.

Coffee is full of antioxidants, and some of the chemicals in your cup can help fight Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, liver cancer and even improve memory.

Additionally, some studies show that women who drink two or three cups of coffee a day are 15 per cent less likely to be depressed.

However, the science is agreed that too much of a good thing can be dangerous, so aim for a maximum daily intake of 400 milligrammes of caffeine (about three cups of coffee).

4. Swearing

In certain situations, swearing may be good for you.

Swearing at work could help employees cope with stress and maintain solidarity.

It can provide effective short-term relief from pain.

However, swearing should be reserved for crises, as the higher the daily swearing frequency was for participants, the less pain relief they experienced.

5. Being messy

If you’re an average person, chances are you’re constantly wishing your home always looked more clean and sparkling, and that you could invite guests over unexpectedly without rushing around trying to tidy everything up.

Messy people may sound like they’re making up lame excuses for their bad habit by pointing out how disorder helps them to be creative. But it turns out they’re right.

In a study published in Psychological Science magazine, scientists found that a messy environment can be great for creative thinking.

While participants in a tidy room were more likely to donate money or choose a healthier food option, those who were in the untidy environment were able to come up with more creative solutions to problems and think outside the box.

So, if you’re in the creative space and your desk is a little messy – that’s perfect.

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6. Animal videos

One may think of this as a waste of time. However, as counter-productive as it seems, this common habit can help your brain focus and complete tasks accurately.

Viewing images of cute baby animals trigger caregiving instincts, making people more cautious on subsequent tasks.

Laughter reduces blood pressure, relieves pain and makes the body more resilient to stress.

7. Skipping a shower

If you have ever been tempted to skip a shower here or there, you could be doing your health and the environment a favour.

Daily washing not only strips your skin of the natural oils that keep it hydrated and supple, but it could also strip it of good bacteria that help prevent disease.

If you do decide to skip a shower, however, don’t pick a day when you’ll have vigorously worked out. No well-meaning explanation will make up for the odour produced.