Let’s be honest — everyone has some “bad” habits. Whether it’s a guilty pleasure like watching endless episodes of trash TV or indulging in a little too much retail therapy, everyone has their moments. But what about those habits that feel so wrong but are actually really, really good for your soul?

I recently stumbled across a Reddit thread where people shared things that feel “unhealthy” but are way better for you than you’ve been led to believe. Here are the most eye-opening responses:

1. “Taking a lazy day. For the longest time, I felt guilty if I spent a whole day doing absolutely nothing, like I was wasting my life. Turns out, sometimes your body and brain really do need a day to switch off.”

—u/Abject_Indication953

2. “Accepting negative emotions rather than avoiding them.”

—u/saalsa_shark

3. “Crying.”

—u/-TrueBit-

4. “Laughing during a funeral.”

—u/abc_deatrix

5. “Not cleaning and sanitizing everything obsessively. Some exposure to bugs and germs is good for us.”

—u/toodleoo77

6. “Going no contact with toxic family members.”

—u/ArchiveOfUnfortunate

7. “Chocolate. Small amounts are healthy.”

—u/sceadwian

8. “Zoning out for a bit.”

—u/leavem3alonehaha

9. “Carbs. Diet culture taught you to be afraid of them, but they are a great source of energy and are necessary for bodily functions.”

—u/lioness-2208

10. “Talking to yourself. It helps organize thoughts, make peace with previous conversations that didn’t go the way you wanted, figure things out, and prepare for future conversations or encounters. It’s really healthy, but people act like it’s automatically a sign of psychosis.”

—u/LizardPossum

11. “Cold showers. They feel physically awful and wrong, but are very beneficial for you.”

—u/Cold_Confidence4132

12. “As someone who has one at the moment and knows why, but can’t help but think of the worst — a swollen lymph node.”

—u/jack_watson97

13. “Leaving a few days between hair washes.”

—u/Mellbxo

14. “Running. While you’re doing it, it feels like death. Afterward, you feel great and are really happy you did it.”

—u/Background_Local_425

15. “Cutting someone out of your life when you realize you are constantly walking on eggshells around them.”

—u/Intelligent_Pie1689

16. “Setting boundaries.”

—u/Maeve__Flowers

17. “Laughing at very dark jokes.”

—u/SuolainenHiekka

18. “Exercise that gives your muscles microtears and aches.”

—u/Iluminiele

19. “Sleeping in on your day off.”

—u/raininadesertt

20. “Saying no.”

—u/In-thebeginning

21. “Not being perpetually productive. It’s OK to rest. It’s OK not to get everything done. I know this, but I can’t seem to break it.”

—u/Ok_Grapefruit_622

22. “Not walking on tiptoes around your sleeping baby. If you avoid all sounds when your baby is sleeping, you’re setting yourself up for years of pain. All three of our kids were used to noise. We could vacuum in the room they were sleeping in no problem, and when our neighbor renovated their house from the inside out, we had no issues with getting the kids to sleep whatsoever.”