Whoops – Bad Habits That Are Good for You?

When a minus becomes a plus. Have you ever been annoyed by some of your habits? Many things become ingrained over the years that we know full well - or think we know - are actually harming us. But the power of habit is just that: powerful. Some everyday routines we may not even notice, or at least don't question. We've got some good news for you in this regard in this article. More specifically, we'd like to introduce you to 13 supposedly bad habits that you can rehabilitate with a clear conscience and continue to cultivate in a relaxed manner.

Fatty food.

Hardly any diet lie has harmed mankind more in the last 50 years than the general condemnation of fat. Specifically, this highly generalized lie was pushed on us by the American food lobby, which wanted sugar to be considered good and needed a culprit for the rising number of heart diseases. Meanwhile, we know there are healthy and unhealthy fats. The healthy ones we find in natural foods like salmon, nuts, or avocados, fatty cheeses and Greek yogurt for example. The unhealthy fats are the poly-saturated and the dreaded trans fats used by the fast food industry.

Carbohydrates.

The next nutritional lie that we can relax and say goodbye to is that surrounding carbohydrates that have been thrashed in the media lately. Since "low carb" seems to be the nutritional order of the day, half the world is afraid of potatoes, rice and pasta. Here, too, it is important to distinguish between the different groups on the one hand, and on the other, and then of course, as always, the dose makes the poison. Sweet potatoes, legumes, whole grains or quinoa, for example, provide our body with valuable nutrients. These provide us with almost all nutritional building blocks we need. On the other hand, those who have committed themselves to the white bread-and-chips mono diet and count cakes and chocolate among their staple foods are relying on the wrong carbohydrates, which do more harm than good in the long term.

Whining.

It annoys people in our social environment and should not degenerate into a constant activity. But venting our anger and frustration every now and then has many benefits for us. Occasional whining has been proven to reduce stress and even strengthen the bond with family and friends. After all, by doing so, we show them that we trust them. Studies have also shown that occasional complainers have a higher self-esteem than people who just take everything in stride.

Giving in to binge eating and cravings.

Many people, especially women, suffer from hormonal or stress-related cravings for certain foods that are difficult to resist. Studies have shown we should not resist these at all, but give in to them to our heart's content. If we constantly suppress these cravings, they will eventually blow up in our faces like an exploded bomb of negative emotions. If you have a craving for chocolate, you have to eat chocolate. If you then reach for a salad, yogurt or an apple, you postpone the craving until later, eat a few too many senseless and tasteless calories in the meantime, and then double or triple up later when the craving has finally gained the upper hand.

Eating out.

There's nothing at all wrong with saving yourself the trouble of cooking at home at regular intervals and preferring to dine in a restaurant of your choice. After all, this is where the social component inherent in these rituals wins out. Of course, restaurant food is not as healthy as home-cooked food, and it can also be quite expensive, but we do our mental health a service with such little luxury outings.

The famous glass of red wine in the evening.

Here, dose and habit clearly decide whether it is a poison or a propellant. Sipping a glass of wine at the end of a long day is fine in most cases. Wine, especially red, provides antioxidants, even promotes our longevity and protects against heart disease and inflammation.

Snacking.

Here, it 100% depends on what we choose. If you can't make it through the kitchen without eating between your main meals, reach for nuts or low-sugar fruit. Chips and the like are definitely not a good choice here and only fuel hunger pangs even more.

Avoiding the sun completely.

Sizzling for hours in the blazing midday sun or regular visits to the solarium are now known not to be beneficial to our health. The link to skin cancer is quite clear here, but the sun is important in itself, not to say vital for us. It helps our bodies produce vitamin D, which has a direct impact on our mood, sleep quality and eating habits.

Taking a nap.

Naps can not only wake up tired spirits, they also lift our mood and improve our ability to concentrate. They've even been shown to lower blood pressure. 10-20 minutes would be ideal.

Frittering time away.

Sweet idleness should not be confused with laziness or uninspired hanging out for no reason. Our brains need time off from everything sometimes. People who have mastered killing time and allow themselves to do it on a regular basis are more relaxed, creative and, on balance, even productive than those who don't allow themselves or the world a minute of idle time.

Swearing.

No, it's not chic or polite at all to use swear words and expletives, but it is healing. Stubbing your little toe and spontaneously uttering a heart-stopping sailor's curse has been shown to increase your pain tolerance. So swearing practically numbs physical pain. In addition, people who occasionally let off verbal gaffes seem more authentic and sincere to those around them. But that's not all, swearing also helps relieve stress and process negative emotions more quickly.

Sleeping in.

Currently, 7 hours of sleep a night is ideal. If you fall short during the week, you're welcome to stay in bed longer on the weekend. You may not be able to replenish your sleep contingent after the fact, but your body will definitely enjoy the extra time in the land of dreams and can recover a bit.

Skipping the gym workout.

Most gyms make an excellent living from those members who let their inner bad guy win every now and then. If you've only ever been happy for your gym because you're promoting it to the max without really taking advantage of your membership there, we have good news for you. Skipping workouts is not a sign of laziness or lack of discipline. If you don't feel like lifting weights or going one tired meter on a bike, listen to your body. Maybe you didn't get enough sleep, you're hormonally challenged, or your body just needs a break. Too much training is just as bad as too little or none at all. If you are not full of motivation and desire to work up a sweat, don't do it. Your body knows why.

Today’s Conclusion:

The bad conscience has had its day. So you see, a bad conscience is like bad habits. Too much is just as harmful as too little. It is basically the case that with most things the quantity decides whether enjoyment and pleasure or illness and other collateral damage are the logical consequence. The writer Hermann Kesten summed up this dilemma. Moderation is man's virtue, intemperance his vice. That's it for today.