11 Bad Habits That Are Surprisingly Good For You
We all have bad habits that are believed to be ruining our lives, preventing us from achieving our goals, and reducing productivity. Whether it is nail-biting, swearing, laziness, procrastination, or any of the other bad habits discussed below. Fortunately, not all is bad about having these habits.
From the title of this post, you are probably wondering how having bad habits can be good for you. Surprisingly, some of them make your life easier and help you achieve your goals even earlier or better than the most disciplined person.
Read on to find out how you can benefit from having bad habits.
READ ALSO: 12 Easy Ways to Get Your Shit Together Starting Now
11 Bad Habits That Are Good for You
- Procrastinating increases efficiency and productivity
Have you already done your homework, or are you waiting for the deadline? How many unanswered emails do you have? Do you have a chair in the corner of your bedroom piled will dirty or unfolded clean clothes?
If you are a procrastinator, you are not alone. Statistics indicate that 80-95% of the population, especially college students, are procrastinators.
When you have to perform a task that you don’t particularly like, you will most likely put off doing it until the very last minute. However, procrastinating is one of the bad habits that are good for you because it can make you great at prioritizing and can also improve your focus.
When you have several pending tasks, then you will prioritize the most important and urgent of these to beat the deadline. Additionally, you will avoid adding any unnecessary details, thus focusing on only the important parts.
Being a procrastinator also makes you a more efficient and productive person. You can work well under pressure and also produce better results in less time.
READ ALSO: 10 Ways to Stop Wasting So Much Time and Be More Productive
- Sarcastic people have a sharper brain
Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, but the highest form of intelligence
Oscar Wilde
Sarcasm is one particular skill that gets a bad rap, especially by sensitive people. But according to a Harvard University study, sarcasm is good for both the expresser and the recipient. It promotes creativity from both the recipient and the one dishing it.
Sarcasm is one of the bad habits that are good for you because it could be a sign of intelligence. Both participants are challenged mentally by having the expresser construct a sentence that the recipient then deduces the literal and the intended meaning.
The expresser’s brain has to work harder to create such a complex sentence, the same way the recipient’s mind tries to understand and make a matching comeback.
Nonetheless, it is understandable that many consider sarcasm a bad habit as it is mainly used to express disapproval or scorn more than just humor.
One should, therefore, use sarcasm in moderation, and with people who might understand it in order to avoid offending someone.
- Laziness is the mother of invention
Of course, the saying is supposed to be ‘necessity is the mother of invention’, but it applies to laziness too, which is one of the bad habits that are good for you.
When assigned a task, a lazy person always looks for the easiest way to do it. They do not want to waste their energy doing any extra work or movements to get to their goal.
One would like to think that some of the greatest inventions were either designed by lazy people or for them. For instance, the inventors of the wheel probably felt unmotivated to walk from one place to another.
Other inventions that were probably made by people channeling their inner laziness include escalators, computers, smartphones, remotes, electric toothbrushes, and credit cards.
READ ALSO: Is It Depression or Just Laziness? How to Know the Difference
- Binge-watching reduces stress
Binge-watching is perhaps one of the most common ways most of us spend our weekends and off days.
With the hectic lives we lead today, it is great to finally have time to catch up on our favorite TV shows that we never get time to watch in real time.
However, people will still look down on you if they find out you spent so much time binge-watching, considering it a waste of time.
Fortunately, binge-watching is one of the bad habits that are good for you. It is a chance for you to escape the real world and get lost in whatever world the movie or TV show you are watching is set in; no matter whether you are transported to the 1743 Scotland world of Outlander or the medieval times of Game of Thrones, Vikings, and Merlin.
If you are feeling low or in need of some laughs, binge-watching comedies will not only provide entertainment, but also a chance to relax and de-stress. After all, laughter is still the best medicine!.
There have been claims that binge-watching could also help to reduce depression. This is probably because watching TV lifts your mood, brings you comfort, and reminds you that there is more to life than your immediate situation.
- Fidgeting improves blood circulation
Tap! Tap! Tap! Is that your finger drumming on the table? Many people have this bad habit where they are always restless and can’t stay still. This might be driving the people around them crazy, but who knew that fidgeting is another of the bad habits that are good for you?
Fidgeting keeps your body active and is a form of exercise that helps to burn some calories. Additionally, tapping or swinging your feet results in better heart health as this behavior enhances blood circulation even while sitting, reducing the risk of arterial diseases.
- Swearing relieves pain and stress
What happens when you trip and fall? Or you hit your toe against the corner of the table? Or caught your finger(s) in a door as you closed it? You most likely drop some expletives.
Swearing in response to pain is an involuntary action for a lot of us. But even though it is considered a bad habit, it has the surprising benefit of reducing pain, according to studies by Keele University.
Using swear words is one of the bad habits that are good for you because it helps you tolerate stressful situations as it gives you a chance to vent your emotions and release tension. For instance, it is okay to curse when in a tough situation as a way to express your frustration and anger.
However, as with sarcasm, swearing should be done in small doses. The constant use of it will not only result in some side-eyes, but it could also lose its impact in soothing your pain and reducing stress.
- Napping increases productivity
Sleeping during the day can either be good or bad for you. In most cases, it is seen as a bad habit. After all, why could you be sleeping during the day when there are so many things to do?
However, sleeping during the day whether at home or at work is one of the bad habits that is good for you. After all, if you are sleep-deprived, working, or going through the motions of the day while exhausted could prove counterproductive and you would be more productive after taking a break to nap.
Napping for 10 to 20 minutes a day helps to replenish your energy, relax, improve your mood, and maintain brain health.
Also, if you are a night owl who is more productive at night naturally, sleeping during the day can be good for you as it will enable you to be at your best during the late evening hours.
READ ALSO: 10 Ways to Overcome Insomnia Naturally
- Not making your bed reduces the risks to your health
It is drilled into us at a very young age to be tidy and always ensure to make our beds when we wake up. However, it is time to put this habit to rest as it could be posing a risk to your health.
According to research by Kingston University, a well-made bed is a perfect home for the millions of dust mites that feed on the dead cells you leave on the bed, all while excreting an allergen that triggers asthma-like symptoms.
An unmade bed, on the other hand, exposes the mites to the sun and moving air, making them dry out and die. At least now you have an excuse when someone asks you why you didn’t make your bed after waking up.
- Gossiping builds social bonds
Humans are curious in nature and always want to know what is going on in each other’s lives. They are also social beings and are hardwired to want to connect and share with others. Gossiping is as old as time itself and has often been considered a bad habit. However, as bad as it is, there are some benefits to get from this bad habit.
Since you can’t gossip by yourself (obviously), you have to meet up, call, or exchange texts with your friends. This provides a chance to make social connections and network.
As you spend time with friends, your body produces the oxytocin hormone that promotes bonding, trust, and generosity. Interacting with friends also makes you happy as you enjoy spending time with them.
- Daydreaming unleashes your creativity
Daydreaming is a sign that you have an active, healthy brain. Daydreaming is one of the bad habits that are good for you because it improves your focus and creativity, and that is why you get your best ideas shortly after zoning out.
Since you are not in control of your thoughts, daydreaming activates parts of your brain that you don’t normally use when focused on other tasks.
- Laziness makes you more intelligent
A study by the Florida Gulf Coast University found that there is a correlation between laziness and intelligence. The study found that people who are less physically active are more brain active.
They rarely get bored as they will still be deep in thought, unlike their more active counterparts who find it hard to spend their time lounging around. As your mind wanders, this could be the time you get your best ideas and discoveries.
There you have them! The above are some bad habits that are good for you. When you find yourself slipping and having one of these bad habits, don’t beat yourself up too much. Remember that there are numerous benefits to some bad habits as well.
Depending on what your bad habit is, you can strive to get better and overcome it. In the meantime, don’t judge yourself too harshly, and instead, take advantage of the benefits you could get from having the bad habit.
Do you possess any of the above habits?
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A very good take on some “bad” habits! I think some things are pushed on us that we HAVE to stop doing but really, if we’re doing them in moderation, it’s fine and there might even be some benefits to it! No wonder I’m always so productive, I bloody love a nap!
This is a really cool way of looking at se of these bad habits. I can totally relate to the whole sarcasm and swearing part. And I’ll tell my Mom the part about making my bed.😅
😂tell her you’re protecting your health next time. There’s a lot of research on that topic to show her in case she needs evidence😉
Yeah I’ll keep them handy 😅🙂