The Terrible Habits Even Healthy People Are Guilty Of

When you think of healthy habits, daily practices like drinking plenty of water and exercising probably come to mind. And while those things are certainly vital to your wellness, you may be guilty of some other things that are surprisingly detrimental to your health. In fact, even the healthiest among us often commit some pretty awful “health sins.”

If any of these habits have wormed their way into your daily life, try dropping them (one at a time, of course), and you just might notice a real difference in your health and happiness over time.

Skipping doctor appointments 

Everyone is busy, and it’s entirely too easy to forego your annual doctor visits or, worse, skip making an appointment even when your body is telling you something is wrong… especially since doctor visits can be expensive, even if you have health insurance. But regular check ups are important for many reasons, and most importantly, it can save you a lot of trouble down the road. 

Showing up late to everything 

Chronic lateness is an annoying trait, and if you make a habit of it, you just might lose your job. Besides, constantly rushing and stressing out is bad for your health and can lead to careless accidents. First, pinpoint the reasons behind your lateness, then work on improving your habits. You’ll keep more jobs and friends that way. 

Following people on social media that make you angry 

Life is too short to follow people on social media who make you miserable. You may have heard of the “hate follow” or “hate stalk,” but everyone you follow on social media should affect you in a positive way. If the person in question is a family member or someone you don’t want to hurt, you can always unfollow them and hide their posts or mute them on Twitter. 

Taking your smartphone to bed with you 

It’s common knowledge that the majority of Americans spend way too much time on their phones. Not only will leaving your phone out of the bedroom of night help you enjoy a much more restful sleep (which will improve your health), it will give you a much-needed “brain break” and allow you more time to connect with your other half distraction-free. 

Rarely cooking at home 

Restaurant food is delicious and convenient. It’s also expensive and often unhealthy. When you cook your own food, you’ll know exactly what’s in it–and, in fact, a recent study suggests cooking at home is the key to a healthy diet. It can also save you some serious cash–Baby Boomers spent an average of $3,100 on dining out in 2016, while millennials spent about $2,946. 

Holding onto grudges 

Most people are holding a grudge or two, and they can be extremely tough to let go of, especially if the “guilty” party never apologized. But grudges are emotionally tough to carry around, and they are bad for your well-being. Letting go of a grudge doesn’t necessarily mean forgiving the other party, but rather focusing on loving yourself for what you’ve lived through. 

Keeping a cluttered home 

Clutter weighs you down emotionally, and it can be bad for your mental health and can even lead to more unhealthy habits. Take the time to declutter your life once and for all. It may involve an investment of your time, but the sense of relief you’ll feel when it’s done will be worth it.