10 ‘bad’ habits that are good for you
'Bad' habit that's good for you 1: Gossiping
Most of us love a good gossip, whether we’re giggling over a
colleague’s new romance or passing an opinion on someone’s outfit choice
or behavior, and the good news is that gossiping could actually be good
for us. Not only does listening to gossip help us to learn more about
the characters of those around us, bonding and having a laugh with your
peers also releases feel-good hormones which help to relieve stress and
anxiety.
'Bad' habit that's good for you 2: Drinking coffee
Although drinking too much coffee can be detrimental to your health,
in smaller quantities the popular hot drink can actually be good for
you. When drunk in moderation (no more than three cups per day),
caffeine can speed up your metabolism, boost exercise endurance and
reduce your risk of gallstones and kidney stones. A study by the Harvard
Medical School has also found that women who drink two or more cups of
coffee a day are less likely to be depressed, while separate research
has shown that drinking three cups cuts risk of age-related diabetes.
'Bad' habit that's good for you 3: Fidgeting
It’s the bane of school teachers everywhere, yet research suggests
that fidgeting may be no bad thing – at least in us adults. Research
suggests that fidgeting can burn up to 350 extra calories a day, helping
you to keep off those excess pounds. To further increase your calorie
burn, try to squeeze in more incidental exercise, such as getting up to
change the channel rather than using the remote control.
'Bad' habit that's good for you 4: Swearing
Swearing: it’s not big and it’s not clever... but studies suggest
that in certain situations it may actually be good for you. According to
a study by the University of East Anglia, swearing at work could help
employees cope with stress and maintain solidarity. Meanwhile,
researchers at Keele University’s School of Psychology found that
swearing can provide effective short-term relief from pain. However, the
study also notes that swearing should be reserved for crises only, as
the higher the daily swearing frequency was for participants, the less
pain relief they experienced.
'Bad' habit that's good for you 5: Skipping a shower
