5 "Bad" Habits That Are Actually Good for You

It can be hard enough just to make it through the day sometimes, so trying to keep up with all the things we should be doing to improve our health and happiness—when, what and even how to eat, the best types of exercise, how to get better sleep, and so, so much more–can be overwhelming, to say the least. The temptation to just give up is understandable–and as it turns out, actually advisable in certain instances. Research has come full circle in some areas, and many habits that were once considered unhealthy or unproductive aren't so bad for you after all, like these five below. Just keep in mind, of course, that one piece of time-tested advice still stands (sorry!): Moderation is key.

1. Consume full-fat dairy.

By now you know "good" fats are your friend, but it turns out that even the saturated fat found in dairy may offer benefits of its own. Researchers have recently linked full-fat dairy with lower diabetes risk, less weight gain and lower risk of obesity compared to low-fat dairy. Though they are not yet sure of the reasons for these findings, they "suggest that dietary guidelines should at least be neutral about recommending low-fat versus whole-fat dairy, allowing people to make their own choice until further evidence accumulates," says Dariush Mozaffarian, MD, DrPH, dean of the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy. "In the end, dairy fat content may be a distraction compared to other characteristics of these foods." Yogurt, for example, contains health-promoting probiotics, and fermented cheeses may increase levels of vitamin K2, which could protect against diabetes. Consider adding daily servings of yogurt and cheese to an overall healthy diet that includes nuts and seeds, fruits and nonstarchy vegetables, fish and vegetable oils, Mozaffarian advises.

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2. Space out.

With mindfulness stealing the spotlight these days, you might be surprised to know that zoning out has its benefits too. Studies show that mind-wandering can boost your mood and creativity and–weirdly–help you plan for your future without even trying. "It is often when your brain is relaxed, rather than focused, when true creativity takes place–and creativity is essential for effective problem solving, innovation and improvements in work and your personal life," says psychologist Elizabeth Lombardo, PhD, author of Better Than Perfect: 7 Strategies to Crush Your Inner Critic and Create a Life You Love. "When you take away the stress of 'I have to focus and figure this out now,' your brain can function with greater imagination," she says. She recommends taking "mindless" breaks throughout the day: Unplug, go for a walk, enjoy a long shower, color in a coloring book or doodle." Stop beating yourself up for drifting off to la-la land. It can actually help you!

3. Get dirty.

Research suggests that our efforts to be super clean may be backfiring. Over-cleaning can mess with our immunes system and other measures of health, and findings of recent studies suggest that handling literal dirt might strengthen our immune systems, thanks to its health-promoting microbes. Reduced exposure to microorganisms and parasites is associated with increased rates of certain diseases, like asthma and hay fever, for example. "Exposure to too many of the wrong bacteria or too little of the right ones can be hazardous to our health, wellness and longevity," explains Stacy Kennedy, MPH, RD, a senior nutritionist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, and co-founder of Wellness Guides. "Having some exposure to germs and not always sterilizing the environment may prove to be very important for overall health," she says. Knock off the constant countertop vigilance and do something fun instead–start training that green thumb, perhaps?

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4. Put things off.

Though it's been the bane of many, procrastinating can actually save you time and effort it you do it the right way. "When you procrastinate, you afford yourself the time to truly think about a choice or action, and you don't make a decision you later regret or engage in unnecessary tasks," says Lombardo. Procrastinating can help you clarify the steps and resources that a certain task realistically requires, rather than just jumping into busyness without thinking it through. Researchers have found connections between "active procrastination" and positive outcomes like less stress and depression, better coping skills and academic achievement. Ironically, procrastination can sometimes help you check more items off your to-do list: "One client told me that her office is always in its most organized state when she has a big project looming," Lombardo recalls. "Don't always jump into decisions or actions–you might find that you're much happier with your overall results in the end."

5. Drink more coffee.

Clutch your morning coffee with pride: Its bad reputation is unfounded, and evidence continues to stack up in its favor due to its vast array of benefits, from better heart health to reduced dementia risk. These are likely due to certain compounds in coffee but may also be partially because of the caffeine. "Caffeine has well-known acute effects on alertness, mood, attention and energy, and previous studies have suggested that it may have long-term effects in maintaining cognitive function into old age," says Marie-Noël Vercambre, PhD, a researcher at the MGEN Foundation for Public Health in Paris, France, who has studied such effects. Caffeine could potentially protect brain health in a variety of ways, including by reducing symptoms of depression and "improving insulin sensitivity and reducing the risk of diabetes, which is a strong risk factor for cognitive decline," she says. Most healthy adults can consume up to 400 milligrams (mg) of caffeine–the amount in approximately four cups of regular coffee–per day. Bottoms up!​