Everybody has daily habits that they might not even notice are bad for them. These can range from eating habits, sleeping habits, and (thanks to the inclusion of the internet into our lives) online habits. While many of these unhealthy habits may seem minor and benign, overtime they can affect your health and overall quality of life.
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Not drinking enough water
Drinking enough water is something that everyone is constantly remined of, yet is all too easy to forget. It is well known that water accounts for 60% of our body, so it should not come as a shock that everyone should be drinking at least 3 litres of water every day. Of course, the amount of water that people require for a healthy diet varies, the Institute of Medicine recommends that adult men consume roughly 13 cups of water a day, and adult women around 9 cups.
Sacrificing your sleep
In the digital age, the importance of sleep seems to have declined as everyone has constant access to entertainment and work. On top of this, the blue light emitted from phones restrains the production of melatonin, the hormone that controls your sleep-wake cycle, making it more difficult to fall asleep and wake up. A lack of sleep has horrendous consequences, including compromising your immune system, affecting your ability to make judgement, and your heart health. It is recommended by the National Sleep Foundation that you get between 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night.
Eating foods which seem healthy
Now that healthy foods are ‘trendy’, especially with the rise in vegan and vegetarian alternatives, lots of food packaging is misleading regarding its actual nutritional value and health benefits. For example, according to Globe Newswire, the global protein powder market size was valued at $4.4 billion in 2021 and is projected to grow by $19.3 billion in 2030.
While protein powder has its benefits, it is starting to be sold as a healthy essential to those who may not be aware of how to consume it safely and effectively. Consuming too much protein powder without proper exercise can lead to bloating, gas, and cramping. Further, just because a product “lacks fat or gluten or carbs, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s healthier” (EatingWell). A lot of fat-free products often contain more sugar, meaning sometimes the full-fat options may be a healthier choice. Make sure you are eating enough vegetables and fruit to get the vitamins your body needs. And regarding the vitamins that you cannot get from foods, you can also consider taking different vitamins in the form of gummies such as vitamin B, magnesium gummies, vitamin E gummies, and so on.
Spending too much time looking at screens
Probably one of the most topical unhealthy habits at the moment is spending too much time sat on the sofa watching TV or lying-in bed looking at your phone. There are so many layers to this unhealthy habit to unpack.
Firstly, the obvious health issues include a lack of physical activity, increasing your odds of becoming overweight and developing further health issues. Eyesight is also at risk, with too much screen time potentially causing eye strain, a condition that can lead to eye pain, blurry vision, and headaches. Everyone should try to swap some of their screen time for a healthier activity, this could include simply going for a walk, reading, listening to music, cooking and so on.
The other aspect to consider is your mental health. Staying indoors for hours every day to watch TV or look at your phone can have a serious impact on your mental wellbeing. Too much screen-time has been shown to lead to isolation, a decrease in self-confidence and increased stress-levels. Readers Digest suggests ways in which to reverse the habit of spending too much time in front of the TV. These include following the 2/30 rule: no more than 2 hours of TV a day and at least 30 minutes of exercise, don’t channel surf, don’t snack in front of the TV, exercise while watching, clean during commercials, and resolve to leave home more often.
Ignoring physical issues until it’s too late
More often than not, this one is attributable to men. Left untreated and niggling injuries or troubling ailments can result in both physical deterioration and mental strain. Seeing a doctor or ordering a discreet prescription from PostMyMeds is always preferable to simply ignoring an issue and hoping it goes away.