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From Slouching To Procrastination, Here Are 37 “Harmless” Habits That Are Actual Disasters
The thing is that most of us have some toxic trait or another in us, and we still stick to them, knowing how bad they are for us. However, there are habits that seem completely harmless on the front, but that’s just a facade, as they can have adverse impacts.
When Reddit user riligan asked, “What's a ‘harmless’ habit that people don't realize is actually damaging in the long run?”, people couldn’t help but pour out their thoughts on this. You might even realize that you also have been practicing these innocent-seeming habits, without knowing their impact. Just scroll down to see what they are!
More info: Reddit
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#2
People pleasing. If you are more concerned with making sure everyone around you is happy than you are about your own well being, it will bite you in the a*s. Eventually you will start to resent people because you will feel that they don't put in as much effort as you do, when in reality you are just doing too much! Take care of yourself, or you will not be able to truly care for others. Learn early how to set and maintain proper boundaries.
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 1 week ago
You cannot make everyone like you. Best bet is be yourself and know those that like you, do so for the real you.
#3
Eating those last few bites when you're full. It's just a few bites of food, right? It can lead to overeating and teaching your body to expect more food over time. This can lead to an increase in weight and all of the other mental health effects that go with weight gain.
Devin Schmitt 1 week ago
Life long member of the clean plate club. Remember all of the starving children in China? My mom didn't like my suggestion to send my creamed spinach, stewed tomatoes and/or liver with onions to those starving children.
I don't know about you, but as I scrolled through the list, I could relate to many of these "harmless" habits, as I practice them quite regularly. Well, as netizens pointed out, they might not seem like much, but they can cause long-term damage to us. Let's closely look at some of them and analyze the harm that they can cause, shall we?
First of all, there is this one called "people pleasing", and I'm pretty sure that we have all done it at least once in our lives. It might sound like nothing, but life coach Johanna Schram has recognized the dangers that are associated with it. She explains that it impacts our self-worth, as we neglect and completely sideline ourselves. This hampers us in forming genuine connections with others.
#4
Playing on their phones when driving. I see it EVERY other driver. So scary.
Julia Mckinney 1 week ago
Never. I never do that. I try to pull over if my phone rings or answer it just long enough to say "i'm driving, will call you back".
#6
Financial illiteracy. Not having a budget. Living on credit.
Sure people "know" it's bad. Those same people still get completely blindsided when they have to face it in adulthood.
Geoffrey Scott 1 week ago
My wife and I have spent the last 40 years paying needs first : Heat, electricity, mortgage, groceries. What ever is left over is either saved or went toward eating out, etc.. So far so good. If we knew we were getting short, either she would pick up a part time gig(she was a SAH wife/Mom), or I would work OT or get a side gig.
Probably a habit that many people have faced is a lack of sleep. I mean, there's so much to do these days, whether it be catching up on that season finale, completing that last chapter of a novel, following the football championship, or just playing the latest video game. With school or work, nights are the only free time we get to do all these numerous things.
As appealing as staying up late sounds, research has revealed that not getting enough sleep drains your mental abilities and puts your physical health at risk. In fact, science has linked inadequate sleep with a number of health problems, like weight gain, a weakened immune system, and cardiovascular diseases.
Sadly, it's quite a big issue, as about 1 in 3 adults in the United States reported not getting enough rest or sleep every day.
#7
Lack of sleep.
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 1 week ago
Ever see those driving experiments? Where lack of sleep is comparable to drink driving?
#9
Only visiting a healthcare professional if the issue is extreme/long-term persistent. Reduces the likelihood of catching serious illnesses in the early stages dramatically if you resist speaking to a doctor until it's crippling.
The next such habit that we want to talk about is overworking and not taking any time off. With the rise in inflation and the need to earn more to survive, people are plunging themselves into work and pushing their brains to their maximum capacity. However, did you know that workaholics can actually face more physical and mental health issues?
A recent study by the World Health Organization and the International Labour Organization shows that working more than 55 hours a week can have negative effects on your health.
Cleveland Clinic states that if you’re overworked, your cortisol levels (the primary stress hormone) increase, which can lead to brain fog, high blood pressure, and a host of other health problems. It further elaborates that when people work too much, they ignore their physical and mental health, as they have no time, and this just worsens everything.
#11
People who continuously choose to sweep things under the rug to "keep the peace."
No peace is kept that way, it just builds a mountain of resentment until one day it causes irreparable harm to the relationship, whether it's toxicity or indifference. And it makes the person who's willing to work through the issues look like they're the one who can't let things go. People, please learn how to have difficult conversations constructively.
Edited typos.
Child of the Stars 1 week ago
My ex-husband is like this. I asked for couple's counseling once, he wasn't interested. So I did solo counseling for several years. When I told him I wanted a divorce, he offered to do couple's counseling. Nope. I was done and had already outgrown him and the relationship by then.
#12
Rushing children. This creates life long anxiety problems and it's backed by research there's even a name for it "hurried child syndrome" parents don't understand how serious this is.
Other such harmful habits include eating a lot, eating junk, and not exercising regularly. We are all aware that junk food is not good for us, yet we can't help but indulge in it. I believe that once in a while is totally fine, but on a regular basis, it can turn disastrous pretty quickly. Heathdirect lists out the effects eating junk food can have on us.
Short term: increased stress levels, fatigue and decreased energy levels, difficulty sleeping, concentration difficulties, feeling down, tooth decay
Long term: type 2 diabetes, heart-related problems, obesity, osteoporosis, certain cancers, depression, eating disorders
It all sounds quite bleak, doesn't it? On the other hand, speaking about the lack of exercise can be equally daunting. Unfortunately, people don't take these things seriously and then end up in trouble. WHO has shockingly revealed that nearly 1.8 billion adults are at risk of disease from not doing enough physical activity!
#13
Comparing yourself with other people.
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 1 week ago
Your life is your own, it is not a race, you are not competing with others.
#14
Constantly saying "yes" to everything sounds polite and helpful, but over time it drains your energy, builds resentment, and burns you out before you even notice.
#15
Excessive consumption of soda.
Michelle C 1 week ago
Consumption of most soda at all has proven to be dangerous. Sparkling water, seltzer water, mineral water, and similar drinks are much healthier choices to consume.
Well, now these "harmless" habits are actually starting to sound scary when you know about the long-term damage that they can do, right? We really hope that this article is a small wake-up call to each one of us as we try not to spiral more, but rather deviate from these harmful things.
That's it from our end, dear readers. Now we want to know if you have any such habits, so just share with us in the comments!
#16
Eating poorly all the time. Outside of unhealthy weight gain + blood work issues, this can also cause some depression, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, lowered immunity etc.
It's always worth investing in healthy food.
Rali Meyer 1 week ago
is your HDL high? - What? - Is your HDL high? - Don't know what that is.. (you better find out)
#17
Doomscrolling: massively screws with your brain.
#19
Subjecting themselves to toxic people solely because they share DNA.
#20
Wearing headphones all the time in loud volume.
#21
Drinking hot lemon water every day.
Friend went to the dentist and found out she’d destroyed her enamel after years of doing this for her “health”.
Michelle C 1 week ago
One really only needs a tablespoon or two of lemon juice and a glass of water if one is going to do this. Acid will indeed wear on one’s enamel.
#22
Only doing minimum payments on debt. Allowing interest to work against you.
#23
Thinking it's polite to avoid hard subjects.
Instead, we should learn how to appropriately address those subjects in a variety of settings. Avoiding them let's things that need to be addressed fester and grow.
#24
Being late.
Rick Murray 1 week ago
I live in a country where "meet me at noon" means anything between half past noon and two o'clock. I'm there at 11:55, because I come from a place where noon means noon, not noonish or "the clock hand hasn't moved much really". Come on people, it isn't hard!
#25
Losing your fishing lure. This leaves a long trail of plastic monofilament fishing line that entangles wildlife and remains a persistent problem. Scuba diving under popular shore fishing spots looks like a tangled wasteland.
#26
Vaping.
Geoffrey Scott 1 week ago
I don't know, at this point giving up a pack of cigs a day habit makes me feel more virtuous. Yes, I know, Vuse IS big tobacco, but 4 pods (of 2.4 nic) over 7 days gives me comfort too.
#27
Comfort zone id say.
#28
Expecting people to treat you the way you treat them. So many people go above and beyond for someone who only associates with them when they want something but never return the favor.
#29
Nightly alcohol consumption.
#30
Sitting too long on the toilet.
Becky Samuel 1 week ago
Causes hemorrhoids, nerve damage to the legs, and is believed to contribute to pelvic organ prolapse (don't Google this at work).
#31
Not stretching.
Every day. Not necessarily each muscle group in one go, but stretch each muscle group every day, at *least* 30 seconds, wherever whenever you can -- get it in where you fit it in. Waiting for toast? Stretch your chest/shoulders. Legs. Assume a horse stance. Something.
Stretching is a little bit of a different kind of pain, that prevents a whole lot of pain.
#34
I heard this quote - I'm not sure who from:
*We teach people how to treat us.*
I find this a good reminder, especially when meeting new people.
#35
Sun bathing. Alcohol.
Abdullah Abd Rahman 1 week ago
What's wrong with sun bathing if you use sun protection lotion ?
#36
Slouching.
Becky Samuel 1 week ago
There is zero evidence that slouching and 'poor posture' cause back pain or medical issues. The real damage is done by maintaining a single position for too long, as we tend to do when stuck at a desk. Ideally you should change position at least 3 times an hour.
#37
Procrastination. Just get into the habit of tackling things head on.
Sincerely, someone with ADHD who thought that the only way I could get things done was to wait last minute. Building habits is important! They're what make you do the thing before you consciously realize you're doing the thing.
What do you think ?
Neb 1 week ago
Eh, quite a bit of these sound nice in theory, but are limited by finances. Investing in healthy food is difficult for people who barely have money to buy cheapest food. Moving away from spouse or family - again, necessary to have work and salary sufficient for rent, eating, transportation, utilities. Especially if person have kid or kids, it make it difficult.
Neb 1 week ago
Eh, quite a bit of these sound nice in theory, but are limited by finances. Investing in healthy food is difficult for people who barely have money to buy cheapest food. Moving away from spouse or family - again, necessary to have work and salary sufficient for rent, eating, transportation, utilities. Especially if person have kid or kids, it make it difficult.
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