Happiness

Happiness Is A Habit - Day 1 - Eight "Bad" Habits That Are Actually Good for You

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Hi Kimberley here just wishing you a Happy New 2021 :)

I thought we’d kick off the 2021 Year taking a light hearted look at habits and why some are good and why some are bad for you .. that way you can choose which ones to keep and also which ones it might not be a bad idea to change :)

Enjoy, and here’s to a transformative 2021

Kimberley xx

Believe it or not, some bad habits are really good for you. Sadly, our parents usually try to punish us out of or control us out of doing these things. Of course, everything in moderation, right? Let’s look at eight "bad" habits that are actually good for you that you can stop trying to end now.

1. Fidgeting - If you tend to wiggle a lot, your mom probably tried to stop it. Your partner might try too. However, fidgeting is really good for you because it burns more calories and keeps your blood moving. This is especially true if you have a job that requires a lot of sitting. Sitting is possibly worse for you than smoking, so anything that can undo that damage is a good thing.

2. Gum Chewing – Sugarless gum is really good for you. If you have the right dental work or your own teeth, chewing gum burns calories, helps you eat less, freshens your breath and also cuts down on cavities.

3. Video Games – While there may be some games that aren’t worth the added benefit, playing video games helps with developing fine motor skills, keeps the mind nimble, and by some reports can help give relief for chronic pain conditions by taking your mind off the problem.

4. Daydreaming – Finding a way to allow your mind to get bored enough to be able to daydream is very good for your mind as well as for your goals in life. You cannot create amazing goals for your life if you can't daydream.

5. Swearing – Everyone has a swear jar growing up, either for parents or the kids. Swearing is considered inappropriate, but studies show that people who swear appropriately tend to have less stress in their lives. Remember that swearing is completely different from a slur. A slur is something you say about a person, whilst a swearword is just a curse word - otherwise known as an expletive.

6. Messiness – If you are a naturally messy person, take heart; you’re likely also a very creative person. Messiness is sometimes a sign of creativity. If you want to be more creative, don’t purposely become messy but realize that sometimes being messy is required to be creative.

7. Sleeping in Late – They say that "the early bird gets the worm," but do they? Sleeping well and enough each night is important to your health and brain function. If you stayed up late and need to sleep in and it won’t cause you to get fired or miss something important – go for it.

8. Passing Wind – Everyone trumps and burps every single day. Passing gas is good for you because it’s a normal activity that is getting rid of built-up gas from your digestive tract to prevent bloating and pain.

Of course, you don’t want to do some of these things when other people are around, but it’s okay to accept some of these things as part of who you are and part of living life.

As long as you can choose the habits you create, you can build a life exactly as you want it to be.

Look out for tomorrow’s “Day 2 … Eight Seemingly Harmless Habits That Are Actually Bad for You”

How to Be Happier

Some Tips on How To Be Happier

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Research has shown that we are born with a set point for happiness. That means you have an inbuilt level of happiness determined by your genes.  So even if we win the lottery our happiness levels will raise for a short time but then eventually go back down to the original level. Sorry to say but more money doesn’t in the long term make you happier.

The good news is that we can change this set point. Plus or minus 10% is attributed to your surroundings and the people around you, over which many of us have little or no control unless we choose to.

The remaining percentage is in our control and can be changed as much as 40% by integrating some small changes.

1. Be grateful

Having a grateful attitude has proven to make significant positive changes in brain and levels of happiness. So at the end of the day just think of 5 small things that you can be grateful for even things as small as seeing a child smile.

 

2. Close Relationships

Sorry to say this but if you have negative people around you they will drag you down, cultivate positive relationships. I know that we can’t choose our families but we can certainly choose our friends.

 

3. Find some meaning in your life

Unfulfilled in your life? Try to remember what you really enjoyed as a child and look for ways to include some of this in your life

 

4. Good partners

Yes it’s true a good marriage based on mutual respect, trust and nurturing will raise your happiness level

 

5. Forgiveness

Yes I know its hard but not holding onto past grievances and forgiving free up happiness.

 

6. Being optimistic

If you hear yourself talking negatively STOP and change the wording. How we talk to ourselves has massive affect on levels of happiness.

 

 

Kimberley Tylor is a qualified counsellor, life coach and hypnotherapist and NLP trainer helping you to overcome obstacles to your happiness and live a fulfilled life after all its not a dress rehearsal!

 

Other Resources

http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/Default.aspx