People enagage in a variety of harmful things that make them feel good but have devastating long lasting impact.
Now let’s flip that with the help of science, how about intentionally developing “bad habits” that have positive impact on your health and personality?
Not every “bad habit” is bad, in fact, depending on context, moderation and exercising your control, some bad habits can make you a better adult. Take for example your conduct when working from home, at a hangout and at office. You might dress in pyjamas or sweats out of office, as long as you know you have to dress up for office.
Distractions
Taking a break to indulge in videos of cute animals can give you more focus and boost productivity for your next task.
In 2012, a study published in the scholarly journal PLOS One observed groups of university students who were asked to complete specific tasks requiring differing amounts of focus before and after viewing cute animal images.
The result: humans are more focused, careful and attentive in conduct directly after viewing certain things we perceive as ‘cute’. If you want to adopt a finesse way of conducting yourself and things in your life, hit YouTube for cute distractions.
Procrastination
Mindful procrastination can bring you new solutions that would have escaped otherwise.
Procrastination is best described by the phrase “the elephant in the room” and most people are guilty of indulging it.
Keep in mind that overindulging it can make things more stressful but in moderation and specific application, it can be a tool for creative thinking.
Consider when you first start a task, your mind goes to the logical solution at first. When you feel stuck, procrastinate with a distraction (cute animal video?). This break can give you new angles to approach your task, find new connections and interesting ways to work better. Remember to simply work with how your brain likes to do things.
Doing the least and saying ‘No’
Saying ‘no’ is an important skill, and contrary to what the simple two-letter word implies, it is hard to say it. Most people are natural born people-pleasers and more are trained by their environments to almost never say the word ‘no’. This is not a bad thing, naturally when someone asks us to do something, we love to find ways of doing it to completion.
Learning to graciously decline things that might invite stress in your life is an invaluable skill. In this way, ‘no’ is a positive influence especially when saying ‘yes’ will lead to feeling resentment in the long run. Moreover, your value and quality of work will be affected if you cannot say no.
Video games
Playing video games can improve problem-solving skills among other real world important skills. In fact, you might find that you absorb easily and more quickly 3D concepts, geometry and computer design skills faster in the world of possibilities.
It is no surprise that one of the major elements in the game include catching and cataloging new species of creatures, learning about their statistics, and supporting them to evolve.
Most video games are based on real world concepts that spread out in useful skills such as spatial reasoning, negotiation, critical thinking, speed, body coordination, among others.
They are also excellent ways to give the brain a break from the worries of real life by immersing it in these experiences that might be eye-opening for new perspective and approaches to real life.
If adulting is not about gaining control over our bad habits and probably using them for good, what is the point?
