People unknowingly develop habits as they go about their day-to-day lives, but they need to be mindful of these habits because some of these are actually damaging to one's health.
Several experts have shared with the Huffington Post some bad habits that they need to watch out for. The first - an obvious one - is sitting all day. It's already a given that people would benefit a lot if they exercise every day, but some don't have time for it as they go on their daily grind.
Some would even argue it's inevitable not to sit down for most part of the day because they have to commute, sit at a desk chair, and plop on the couch to unwind or eat a meal. But Carrie Schmitz, the senior manager of human factors & ergonomics research at Ergotron, said they have to rethink this habit.
"Countless studies have shown that sedentary behavior for extended periods can have significant negative impacts on physical and mental health, including increased risk of cancer, diabetes, blood clots and decreased mental focus and productivity," she said.
Another bad habit is drinking coffee first thing in the morning. It's true people need their caffeine fix to jumpstart their day, but they should drink water first in order to kickstart their metabolism and reduce their risk of developing diabetes.
"Getting up and reaching for the coffee maker first thing only worsens dehydration," said Eliza Savage, a nutritionist from Middleberg Nutrition.
The third bad habit to combat is ingesting sugar in foods and drinks. The American Heart Association has advised that the maximum amount of sugar a regular male should consume every day is 37.5 grams (9 teaspoons), while women should consume no more than 25 grams (6 teaspoons).
Jeanette Kimszal, a registered dietitian nutritionist, said people need to control their sugar intake. "I always advise clients to be aware of the amount of added sugar in 'healthy' foods like nut butters, granola, yogurt, and trail mix," she said.
For those who have a sweet tooth, she suggested that they opt for plain foods like unsweetened Greek yogurt. To get their sugar fix, they can drizzle a bit of honey.
Because of the advancement of technology, the fourth bad habit to conquer is one's obsession with social media. It's fun to brose Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, but if people can't go through the day without going online, then something is seriously wrong.
"Being obsessed with social media gives people a distorted view of the world and can have a huge impact on our mental health," warned Sal Raichbach, an addiction psychiatry doctor at Ambrosia Treatment Center. "Humans are naturally social creatures so it's not uncommon or wrong to have that longing for interaction. The problem, however, arises when people rely on it for that interaction or become glued to constantly checking their newsfeed."
Lastly, Julian Cymbalista-Clapp wrote for Reader's Digest that getting sunburned - even only occasionally - can have serious health implications in the future. People love getting tans, but many are not careful with sun protection. As a result, their skin gets damaged "in ways that can never be repaired or reversed."
