We all subscribe to bad habits. While some of these habits may appear trouble-free, others might dent your overall health and well-being. If you have the guts to confront these detrimental tendencies, you will significantly improve your prospects of living a happier and healthier life in the long run.
Indeed, eliminating an unhealthy habit from your system is easier said than done, especially if you have been practicing it for a long time. However, the benefits justify the effort. Here are five unhealthy habits you should quit right away:
1. Skipping Exercise
It is impossible to emphasize the significance of staying active. Exercising regularly can reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases and increase your blood flow, muscle strength, and more. Remember, you can achieve your fitness goals without intense workout sessions. Just establishing a regimen of regular physical activity will be sufficient. It might be something as easy as going for brisk walks.
Most people exercise whenever they are free. It does not work like that. For best results, you must stick to a routine—our body temperature peaks between 2 pm to 6 pm. By working out at this time, you may be taking advantage of your body’s “optimal” state for physical activity.
When beginning an exercise routine, it is best to take things gently and carefully at first. However, if you are addicted to alcohol or any other substance, you might have a hard time working out regularly due to impaired energy supply. Of course, excessive drinking is one more unhealthy habit you must quit as soon as possible and not just for the sake of exercising better. You could join a rehab center such as Delphi Health Group. Learn more about their programs by visiting www.delphihealthgroup.com.
2. Not Getting Enough Sleep
Sleep deprivation has been linked to insulin resistance, hunger disruption, and decreased cognitive and physical functioning. Moreover, it could also contribute to your weight gain. Ideally, adults should aim for seven hours of sleep per night at the very least. Be consistent and adhere to the same schedule all week.
A healthy sleep-wake cycle heavily relies on a consistent schedule. For that, you will have to avoid hitting the snooze button on your alarm clock. When you “snooze,” you do not get restful sleep. In fact, it only makes you drowsier afterward. Snoozing could throw off your body’s internal clock, making it more difficult to wake up at around the same time every day.
To make matters worse, it can prevent you from being on time for work and add unnecessary stress. Keep the alarm clock far from your bed and set the volume high. That way, you will not have a choice but to leave your bed.
3. Eating Too Much Red Meat
The American diet is far too high in red meat. This leads us to eat too much protein, which is hard on the digestive system. On top of that, numerous studies have shown an association between eating a lot of red meat and an increased risk of developing various cancers, including breast, lymphoma, stomach, lung, bladder, and prostate cancers. Therefore, you should opt for a well-balanced diet. It is essential to the optimal functioning of the human body.
It is a common misconception that eating only fruits and vegetables constitutes a healthy diet. A healthy diet also includes starchy foods and milk and dairy products. It is worth mentioning that individuals’ diet requirements vary depending on their daily activities. So you should not blindly opt for a diet that works for someone else. Before making any drastic modifications to your diet, you should see a professional.
4. Biting Your Nails
Nail biting usually begins in childhood and persists into later life. It can cause discomfort to the skin around your nails and damage the nail-growing tissue, leading to distorted nail growth and an unsightly appearance. However, the negative repercussions of this habit go far beyond mere aesthetics.
The crevices in your fingernails are ideal for collecting grime and other particles. So biting your nails means all those bacteria will eventually make their way inside you. Your fingernails are nearly twice as filthy as your fingers, which could pave the way for various infections.
Nail biters are more likely to keep up with warts in the areas surrounding their fingernails. Experts say that the human papillomavirus (HPV) is typically to blame for that, which enters the body via a wound or scrape brought on by nail-biting.
This professional dentist in Santan Valley also adds that nail biting can wear your teeth enamel away, or even cause chipping or cracking.
5. Excessive Screen Time
Nowadays, it is virtually impossible to spend the whole day without using any electronic device such as a desktop, mobile, or tablet. But that does not mean you should stare at screens all day long. Overexposure to blue light from digital devices is harmful to your eyes.
Besides, excessive screen time also indicates that you are living a sedentary lifestyle. If you do not get up and move about, your health will suffer. It particularly raises mortality rates and poses a significant threat to cardiovascular health. In some cases, too much screen time might also trigger depression and anxiety. Why? Because we are always checking out each other’s social media profiles and evaluating ourselves against them.
To cut down on this habit, establish technology-free zones in your home. The bathroom should be right on top of the list. It is unsanitary and prevents you from focusing on the business at hand. Dining tables or kitchens could also be other potential prospects for technology-free zone areas.
Another option is to uninstall unnecessary apps. You may, for instance, remove social media apps if you never use them outside of business hours.
Conclusion
The CDC estimates that 50 percent of all deaths in the US can be attributed to preventable lifestyle choices. But since there are several unhealthy habits, you might be confused about where to start. To make your life easier, we have covered the top-of-the-list unhealthy habits you should eliminate from your life ASAP!