10个坏习惯：让你更健康更快乐更成功

There’s probably something you do that you class as a cringeworthy bad habit. Relieve your guilt and stop your self-flagellation by reading about the good sides to ten common bad habits, and how you can use them to your advantage.
有时候你觉得自己的某些言行是坏习惯。这时，请看看下面10个常见坏习惯的好处，停止自责，停止自我苛求，学着把这些坏习惯变成自己的优势吧。

1. Being Disorganized Enhances Creativity
杂乱无章可以激发创造力

People who are messy may sound like they’re making up lame excuses for their bad habits by pointing out how disorder helps them to be creative. It turns out they’re telling the truth, and scientific research backs them up. Chaos does indeed encourage people to think outside the box and come up with novel solutions. Volunteers in a study at Northwestern University were faster at solving puzzles when they were in a messy room as opposed to a tidy one. They also drew more creative pictures in a messier setting.
那些杂乱无章的人貌似总为自己找些蹩脚借口，说什么“乱七八糟有助于激发创造力”。其实，科学研究证明，还真有这么回事。混乱确实能够激发人们跳出思维框框，进而想出有创意的方案。在西北大学的一项调查中，当志愿者被安排在凌乱房间时，可以更快地解开谜团；而且，在环境更为混乱的情况下，他们还可以画出极具创意的画作。

Since disorder has such a powerful effect on the mind, you may want to save your mess for the right context. Keep your accounts tidy and orderly, but allow clutter in spaces where you need more creativity.
既然紊乱能对思维产生如此大的影响力，或许维持恰当的混乱也不失为过。在条目纲领上做到井然有序，在具体空间部分维持混乱以激发创造力。

2. Watching Cute YouTube Videos Can Make You More Productive
看萌宠视频有助于提高办事效率

What could be a bigger waste of time than trawling the internet for cute animal pictures or amusing videos of pets doing daft things? Plenty of things, surprisingly. Studies have shown that, as counter-productive as it seems, this common habit can actually help your brain to focus and complete tasks accurately. Researchers at Hiroshima University found that viewing images of cute baby animals triggered care-giving instincts, making people take more care on subsequent tasks.
耗在网上翻看萌宠图片或萌宠搞笑视频是不是太浪费时间了呢？要知道，这些玩意儿数也数不清啊。不过，研究却发现，虽然看上去不利于提高工作效率，但实际上这个小习惯却有助于大脑更集中更精确地完成任务。广岛大学的研究员发现，看萌宠图片会激发人们献爱心的本能，进而使人们更专注于接下来的任务。

Now that you can guiltlessly surf the web for cute animal images, bear in mind that it’s even better if you can find a video of a puppy or kitten doing something hilarious. Laughter reduces blood pressure, relieves pain and makes the body more resilient to stress.
所以，你不仅可以毫无愧疚地网搜萌宠图片，还可以观看猫狗蠢萌视频哦。欢笑可以降低血压、减轻疼痛，还可以让身体更精神百倍地对抗压力。

3. Biting Your Nails Boosts Immunity
咬指甲可以提高免疫力

Nibbling on your nails is considered a bad habit, but only because of social convention. Back before we had nail scissors, humans would likely have bitten their nails for two reasons. First, it keeps them from getting too sharp and from injuring us, and second, it exposes the immune system to bugs. Research consistently shows that small exposures to bugs will help boost immunity.
根据社会约定成俗的看法，咬指甲是个坏习惯。在指甲钳发明之前，人类咬指甲主要有两个原因：首先，这样可以防止指甲长得过于尖长而伤到自己；其次，这样会使病菌有机可乘进入免疫系统。而一直以来研究都表明，一定程度的病菌入侵反倒有助于提高免疫力。

If you’re not a nail-biter, rest assured, you don’t have to start. Follow the principle that small amounts of exposure to bacteria are health-boosting, so don’t sterilize, scrub or scour your body too much.
如果你不喜欢咬指甲，当然最好还是不要养成这个习惯。请记住：少量细菌其实是有益于健康的，所以不要过分清洁自己的身体。

4. A Good Gossip Boosts Your Mood
良性八卦可以改善心情

Talking about other people seems to be a global fascination. People can’t resist a good story or secret, and there are whole magazines devoted to celebrity gossip and members of the public telling tales. Sharing other people’s news has a whole range of mood-boosting benefits. Researchers at Brown University found that most people’s mood improved for up to four hours after spending just 20 minutes gossiping with a friend. 96 percent of people were able to reduce tension and anxiety this way.
说别人闲话似乎俨然是一种全球通病。谁都无法抵挡精彩故事或小道秘密的诱惑，数不清的杂志媒体都在不停八卦名人明星。闲话他人私事其实能为改善情绪带来很多好处。布朗大学的研究人员发现，哪怕只跟朋友八卦了20分钟，大部分人的心情都要好上4个小时。96%的人都会通过八卦来降低紧张焦虑的情绪。

The benefits of gossip are really about bonding and connecting with others. Use gossip positively, and not as a way of judging, criticizing, or ostracizing other people.
八卦的好处主要在于和他人建立社交关系。所以，请良性利用八卦，而不要将八卦用来评判、批评或排斥他人。

5. Swearing Relieves Stress
说脏话可以减轻压力

Your mother may have told you that cursing is a sign of a limited vocabulary but using a little blue language can actually make you feel better when you’re subjected to stressful experiences. Swearing may be particularly useful in the workplace, especially in times of crisis. Swedish scientists have revealed that employees who suffer unfair treatment at work, and don’t find ways to express their anger, double their risk of having a heart attack. Researchers at the University of East Anglia found that swearing at work helps employees to cope with stress and frustration, and cursing can encourage team spirit.
从小妈妈可能就告诉过你，讲脏话是不对的。但是，当你遇到压力极大的情况时，偶尔说两句脏话其实可以让你感觉好受些。在工作场合，尤其是面临危机的时候，说脏话或许还挺奏效。瑞典科学家发现，职场遭遇不公平对待却又无处发泄的员工，患心脏病的几率要高出一倍。而东安格利亚大学的研究人员发现，工作时发点牢骚有助于员工应对压力和沮丧情绪，而且有时还能激发团队精神。

Make sure you let off a little steam when you’re suffering from stress, including an odd choice curse or two if it helps to lower your blood pressure. Make sure you only use naughty words in front of people who are unlikely to find it offensive, and be aware that certain words may prove too fruity for most ears.
所以，当你压力山大时，完全可以发点小牢骚。说一两句脏话有助于降低血压。当然，说脏话时要确保对方能够接受，而且讲话分寸要能让大多数人接受。