Being a couch potato for an extra hour playing video games or chewing bubble gum is, according to strict parents, unhealthy and irresponsible. Well, that’s what they say. Apparently, these “destructive” activities and some other unusual habits can have positive effects on our mood, brain, and health. Give it a try and you won’t have to wait long for interesting results.
We are always trying to see the world from a different perspective, so we decided to create a list of 6 unexpected habits that are really helpful for your health. Let’s start!
Chewing Gum: Reduces Stress Levels And Boosts Memory
Chewing gum while reading appears to have many positive effects on our bodies. Among them, it improves memory, attention, vigilance, and decision-making.
Studies show that people who chewed gum during the test performed 24% better on tests of short-term memory and 36% better on tests of long-term memory.
Another study showed that chewing gum also reduces the feeling of stress, as it reduces the levels of the hormone cortisol, which participates in the development of stress reactions.
Playing Video Games: Enhances Your Ability To Learn And Make Decisions
Fast-paced action video games with peripheral visuals and pop-up events help people capture sensory data and turn it into correct decision-making and improved responses, as the study shows.
In addition, real-time strategy video games increase our brain’s ability to learn. However, this cheat only works with fast action games, not slow timers like The Sims.
Swearing: Reduces Stress And Increases Pain Tolerance
Swearing can reduce stress and help eliminate frustration. Additionally, it can increase pain tolerance according to a study conducted by Keele University School of Psychology.
It is an emotional release, but if you overuse it, swearing will lose your emotional attachment and become a bad and unnecessary habit.
Being Messy: Helps To Boost Creativity
Remember how your mother always said that being messy is a sign of lack of education, disorganization, and lack of discipline? Well actually, our bad habits show the creativity that we hide within us.
Kathleen Vohs and her colleagues conducted an experiment at the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. Two groups of people were placed in orderly and cluttered rooms and instructed to create as many uses as possible for the ping-pong balls and to write them down.
The results showed that the participants in the messy room produced more creative ideas.
Sleeping In: Reduces Heart Attacks And Strokes
Early risers often accuse those who like to sleep a little more lazy and unmotivated. But that’s not true. Waking up early can be detrimental to your health.
According to this study, people who wake up very early may develop a risk of high blood pressure and may experience hardening of the arteries, heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure. So feel free to follow your body’s lead and get some more sleep!
Gossiping: Helps Friendships And Relieves Stress
While gossip is considered malicious or unreliable, it also has a positive influence on us. Psychological research shows that gossip improves our ties with other people and helps increase our friendship with them.
Also, gossip reduces stress and anxiety levels. Gossip groups cooperate, prevent selfishness, and exchange social information better.
Do you know of any other unusual habits that are really good for your health? Let’s continue the list together in the comments!
