These "Bad Habits" Can Actually Make You Healthier?

These "Bad Habits" Can Actually Make You Healthier?In the eyes of most people, sleeping in, not washing your face, not making your bed, taking a nap, not washing your hair every day, and leaving the washing machine door open are all signs of laziness. But is that really the case? In fact, these seemingly "bad habits" can actually be beneficial to our health

These "Bad Habits" Can Actually Make You Healthier?

In the eyes of most people, sleeping in, not washing your face, not making your bed, taking a nap, not washing your hair every day, and leaving the washing machine door open are all signs of laziness. But is that really the case? In fact, these seemingly "bad habits" can actually be beneficial to our health.

Aunt Wang is a middle school homeroom teacher whose son has a "bad habit" that makes her headache - he likes to sleep in. Every morning, Aunt Wang has to go to great lengths to wake her son up. Once, Aunt Wang couldn't stand it anymore and reached out to pull her son out of bed. Unexpectedly, her son sat up suddenly due to the abrupt movement, his vision went black, and he fell back onto the bed. Aunt Wang was startled and immediately checked on her son. Thankfully, her son recovered quickly. That evening, Aunt Wang told her husband, who works at a tertiary hospital, about the incident. Her husband frankly blamed Aunt Wang for lacking common sense in health. He explained, "Actually, including moderate sleeping in, there are six lifestyle habits that may seem like laziness, but they are actually beneficial to our bodies." What are these habits? Let's explore and see if you have been accidentally doing them right.

1. Moderate Sleeping In

• A research team from Stockholm University in Sweden published a paper in the journal Sleep Research that proved that moderate sleeping in is beneficial to our bodies. They recruited over 30 volunteers for the experiment and found that those who liked to sleep in, even for half an hour after waking up, not only had sharper thinking and better memory, but also higher work and learning efficiency.

Besides improving thinking and memory, moderate sleeping in is also good for the cardiovascular system. Especially in winter and spring, when cardiovascular diseases are common, moderate sleeping in can act as a buffer. When we first wake up, our heart rate is slower, blood flow is also slower, and blood pressure is gradually rising. If we suddenly sit up, many people may experience dizziness, palpitations, and other symptoms, and in severe cases, it can even lead to accidents. The situation of Aunt Wang's son's vision going black is a case in point. Sleeping in can give the body a buffer time, allowing the heart rate and blood pressure to gradually return to normal, thus preventing accidents.

Of course, sleeping in should be moderate, at most 30 minutes is enough. After 30 minutes, the body is prone to drowsiness, wanting to sleep again, which is counterproductive. While sleeping in, we can stretch, kick our legs, and move our limbs, which will make us feel more refreshed upon waking up.

2. Not Washing Your Face Frequently

In the scorching summer, our faces are prone to sweating and becoming greasy, and many people choose to wash their faces frequently. But you may not know that frequent face washing is actually detrimental to skin health. The stratum corneum on the surface of the skin is like a "protective garment" for the skin, which can moisturize, protect against sun damage, and block harmful substances. Every time you rub hard with facial cleanser or soap, it thins the stratum corneum, making the skin sensitive and prone to redness, burning, and other conditions.

Additionally, our skin surface harbors microorganisms, such as fungi and bacteria, which maintain the balance of the facial condition. Frequent face washing disrupts this balance, causing the skin to be more susceptible to problems.

Many people believe that if the face is oily, it should be washed vigorously. In fact, oil cannot be simply washed away, it is related to diet and sleep patterns. The more frequent you wash, the more your skin feels "dehydrated," and it will secrete more oil to "save itself."

Therefore, face washing doesn't need to be too frequent, once in the morning and once at night is enough, and it's not necessary to use facial cleanser every time. Especially for those who stay indoors all day and don't sweat or wear makeup, washing with water is sufficient.

When choosing facial cleansers, don't just look at advertisements, check its pH value, preferably weakly acidic or neutral, because our skin has this pH value, which is the most gentle on the skin. In short, face washing should be done in moderation, don't do it too often, and protect the stratum corneum of the skin, so as to maintain skin health.

3. Not Making the Bed After Waking Up

Many people think that not making the bed after waking up is a sign of laziness, but in fact, not making the bed is beneficial to health in some aspects.

During sleep, we exhale carbon dioxide, sweat, and other waste gases. If you make the bed neatly right after waking up, these substances will remain in the bedding, and the bedding will slowly become a source of pollution, a breeding ground for dust mites and other allergens.

Relevant research from Kingston University in the UK shows that even in the cleanest bedroom, millions of dust mites can be found in every bed. Making the bed is equivalent to building a thermal and moisture retention hut for dust mites. However, if you don't make the bed, the moisture in the bedding can dissipate, the living environment for dust mites becomes harsh, and their numbers naturally decrease.

Of course, not making the bed also requires attention to maintaining a tidy and well-ventilated bedroom, and the bedding should not remain damp. Especially people who are prone to allergies or have respiratory diseases should pay more attention to the cleanliness and dryness of the bedding to prevent the growth of dust mites and other microorganisms.

Guo Xiheng, a sleep expert at Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, suggests that after waking up in the morning, you can flip the bedding over to let the other side air out and stay dry, which can also reduce allergens.

4. Not Working During Lunch Breaks

Taking a lunch break, especially a short nap, is highly beneficial to the body!

The American website "Nature" once published an article pointing out that during lunch breaks, our bodies produce anti-aging substances, such as antioxidant proteins, which are synthesized during this process. And antioxidant proteins can delay aging.

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin found that both daytime naps and nighttime sleep can make the brain more flexible, improving memory and learning ability. In 2008, Sarah Mednick's team at the University of California conducted a study that showed that taking a nap during the day can indeed improve memory. Drinking coffee or caffeinated beverages has no benefit for memory, and may even be counterproductive.

Scientists have observed over a long period of time that regular naps can reduce the risk of developing coronary heart disease, stroke, and other diseases, which means that naps are also beneficial for cardiovascular health.

In addition, naps can enhance immunity. A study by immunologists at the University of Florida showed that after inducing sleep in people with sleep disorders, the number of immune cells (such as T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes) in their bodies increased. This means that while we are asleep, our immune system is secretly working, repairing and strengthening our bodies.

Good sleep, including naps, is crucial for enhancing immunity! In addition to the above benefits, moderate naps can also help protect the eyes, improve work efficiency and mood, and even beautify the skin.

5. Not Washing Your Hair Every Day

Washing your hair every day is actually not good for the scalp and hair. Naturally secreted oils protect the scalp, prevent dryness, and give the hair shine. If you wash your hair every day, these oils are washed away, and the scalp may become dry, tight, prone to dandruff, and itchy.

Frequent hair washing can also thin the stratum corneum of the scalp, making it more vulnerable to bacterial and fungal infections, leading to scalp inflammation or infection. In addition, shampoos contain many chemicals, excessive use can damage the hair, making it dry, split, and prone to breakage.

Therefore, experts recommend washing your hair 2 to 3 times a week according to your hair type and scalp condition. If you have oily hair, you can wash it a little more often, but don't wash it every day. When washing your hair, the water temperature should not be too high, and remember to blow dry your hair after washing, don't let it stay wet, as this can easily lead to catching a cold. When choosing shampoo, try to choose gentle, natural ingredients, which are better for the scalp and hair.

6. Not Closing the Washing Machine Door After Taking Out Clothes

Leaving the washing machine door open after washing clothes may seem like a bad habit, but it actually helps the lifespan of the washing machine and even our health.

The washing machine is wet after washing clothes, opening the door for ventilation is like opening a window for ventilation after taking a shower. With the door open, the moisture will dissipate, preventing the washing machine from getting moldy and growing bacteria, and also avoiding secondary contamination of clothes when washing next time.

Moreover, the parts in the washing machine, such as the rubber ring, are prone to aging and rust if they are soaked in moisture for a long time. Keeping it dry is the best maintenance for the washing machine and can extend its lifespan.

So, next time after washing clothes, don't rush to close the door!

Conclusion

These six seemingly "bad habits" are actually beneficial to our health. They are not signs of laziness, but rather a healthier lifestyle.

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