7 “bad” habits that are actually good for you
Many of us have bad habits that we either try to hide or would like to stop doing if possible. But what if you found out that your bad habit could actually be a good thing? These 7 ideas might just make you feel a bit better about life.
Burn more calories by fidgeting
The movement of your body while fidgeting actually burns calories, so you are in fact doing a bit of extra exercise. Sure it might bother those around you, but you could be burning around 350 kcal a day doing it.
Become more alert by chewing gum
If you want to relieve stress and help switch your brain into top gear, grab yourself some chewing gum. It can help boost the oxygen levels in your blood, which could help you perform tasks better
Reduce your pain with video games
Many adults see video games as child’s play, but in fact it can be quite therapeutic. Research has found that burn victims or those experiencing back pain have found relief while playing games – potentially it’s because it is a way to immerse yourself fully in a task which reduces your brain’s capacity for pain.
Boost your immunity by picking your nose and biting your nails
The jury’s still out on this one in terms of science, but one study found that eating the snot from your nose or nibbling your fingernails could potentially strengthen your immunity. By ingesting small amounts of germs and bacteria into our body, we learn how to fight them off.
Solve your problems with some daydreaming
Some people see it as a waste of time or something that we do as a child, but higher level parts of our brain are engaged when we let our mind wander. These can help us with complicated problem solving more so than by just doing everyday tasks which are quite limiting.
Relieve stress and pain by swearing
It’s still frowned upon, but swearing can help us bear with stress and pain more easily. Often if we hurt ourselves or have to do something uncomfortable, uttering a few curse words can help us take our mind of it. However, it’s best saved up for when you really need it, as overuse can dull its effectiveness.
Be more creative by being messy
Often people with a messy house or workspace are seen as lazy or disorganised. But in fact a bit of messiness can help us release our creativity, as opposed to order and cleanliness, which is quite rigid and conventional.
Have you got any bad habits that we have missed out on? We would love to hear from you in the comments.
Related links:
Why we dwell on the negative and how to stop
The secret to quieting a frazzled mind
5 wonderful things that happen when you start to believe in yourself