6 Bad Habits that Could Save Your Butt

In moderation, these vices pay off
By Rachael Schultz, Men's Health

Some bad habits should be laid to rest forever, like smoking, cheating, and skipping the gym for a month. But just because something isn't healthy enough to turn into a daily habit, that doesn't mean you have to swear it off for good. In fact, some "sins" are even beneficial in moderation. Here are six such habits that aren't so bad for you after all.

RELATED: 7 Nagging Health Problems You Shouldn't Ignore

1. Putting off your chores to catch up on True Detective.
A 2012 study from the Netherlands found that what you do after work significantly affects your level of job dedication the next day. People who always spent their afterhours continuing to work or do chores were less relaxed and psychologically focused the next day than those who kicked back with low-effort activities. But if you flick on your boob tube, don't leave it on for too long. Regularly watching more than 4 hours of TV a day is linked with an increased risk for type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and premature death. So switch up your downtime: In the study, people who had a relaxing night with friends or a leisurely workout--like a walk--also saw an increase in next-day productivity.

PLUS: Unorthodox--but proven--ways to boost productivity. Check out these 5 Strange Success Strategies.

2. Calling in sick when you're hungover.
All work and no play is apparently our motto by choice: A survey by Harris Interactive found that Americans left an average of 9 vacation days unused in 2012--which is more than half the number most people are even given to use. Meanwhile, the accounting firm Ernst & Young did an internal study of its employees and found that for each additional 10 hours of PTO people took, their year-end performance ratings significantly improved and that frequent vacationers were more likely to stay with the firm in the long run. Most companies give personal hours separate from vacation anyway, so take a hint and give yourself a mental health day--guilt-free. (But make sure you're ready to go back the next day with these 8 Ways to Cure a Hangover.)

3. Half-assing a workout.
For starters, simply showing up to the gym is better than skipping it entirely. Justifying that a potential workout would be a wash because you're tired makes it easier for you to find an excuse next time you don't want to go, says Jessica Wilson, C.S.C.S., owner of Wilson Fitness Studios in Chicago. "We all have days where we are running on 15, 20, 30 percent of our normal energy level, but your goal should be to give 100 percent of that 15, 20, 30 percent," she adds. If you only have 20 minutes--whether logistically or mentally--stick to strength training: It gives you the most bang for your buck and causes the most benefit to your internal systems and outward appearance, Wilson advises.

PLUS: Which moves do fitness experts hate? Read 5 Exercises That Make Trainers Cringe.

4. Blowing your lid.
Feeling angry? Let it out. Men who internalized their rage were more likely to suffer hardened arteries and high blood pressure, and were five times more likely to have a heart attack than those who spoke their mind, according to separate studies from the National Institute of Health and Swedish researchers. Keeping your temper in check can increase stress hormones, which in turn boosts blood pressure and damages arterial walls. But walking it off really can keep you from blowing a gasket: Japanese researchers found that taking a daily stroll can reduce anger and decrease diastolic blood pressure.

RELATED: 5 Legit Reasons To Have A Temper

5. Reading this article during work.
In a 2011 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign study, people performed a 50-minute task straight through and saw a significant decline in performance. When they took two brief breaks, however, they saw no decline in work ethic or results. Researchers attribute this to a dulling of the senses: When you see, hear, or feel something constantly, you become conditioned to it and your brain stops registering it as important. And if you're a meme man, a new study from Hiroshima University found that looking at pictures of animals helped people work faster and make fewer mistakes on focused tasks. The key to getting promoted: more cat videos!

6. Buying something impulsively.
Acting on your gut can keep you from overthinking things, especially if you tend to be unnecessarily frugal. But impulse purchases are only advantageous when you know enough about the product or service, says Sara Wedeman, Ph.D, owner of Behavioral Economics Consulting Group. If you need a new winter jacket, you've already thought about what features you want to upgrade to, and this knowledge base kicks in whether you are aware of it or not, Wedeman says. So when you see an overcoat you must have, trusting your gut is relatively safe and easier on your discipline reserve.

Plus, following a whim on seemingly crazy ideas, like booking a random trip to the Bahamas, can lead to happier decisions. "A lot of America mistakenly holds this idea that doing something merely for joy or beauty is morally corrupt," Wedeman says. If you can afford to take a trip and it doesn't put you at any risk, buying an adventure is probably money well spent.

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