7 bad habits that are good for you

We typically group habits into two categories: good and bad. While the line between them might appear to be clear, it can sometimes get blurry. Some habits labelled ‘bad’ do actually produce great, productive results. Here are just seven habits that scientific research shows you shouldn’t worry too much about. 1. Daydreaming Daydreaming can occupy up to a third of our waking lives, but it’s often seen as a waste of time and is associated with laziness and procrastination. However, research has found that the ‘executive network’ in our brain is highly active when we’re daydreaming. And that sleepiness you feel when you drift off into a daydream? It can actually boost your brain power. According to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, the areas of our brain used while we daydream are the same ones that help with complex problem solving. So, daydream away. 2. Gossiping Talking about other people is a global fascination. People can’t resist a good story or secret – there are magazines and TV shows devoted to celebrity gossip and members of the public telling tales. And in an era where mental illness and stress-related diseases are on the rise, it turns out that sharing other people’s news has a whole range of mood-boosting benefits. Researchers at Brown University found that most people’s mood improved for up to four hours after spending just 20 minutes gossiping with a friend. A whopping 96 per cent of people were able to reduce tension and anxiety this way. Gossip can help you bond with whoever you’re speaking with, it can help you learn a bit more about the individuals and situations around you, and laughing over some scandalous story can release feel-good hormones that help […]

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