We all have unhealthy habits. There are very few people among us who can’t name at least one negative behavior pattern or vice that they wish they could ditch permanently. We tend to settle into our routines and push any thoughts about how our unhealthy habits might be affecting us far out of our minds.

No one should spend all their time obsessing about their negative traits. With that being said, it’s still important to understand how some of your bad habits might be affecting you. Here’s three common bad habits and how they can actually hurt you in the long run.

Inactivity

Most scientists are in agreement that human beings were never meant to spend their days sitting at a desk or on a couch, but modern life doesn’t lend itself well to how we’re meant to live. Work and school can be stressful, resulting in most of us coming home and relaxing on the sofa after a day spent sitting on a chair.

Inactivity can be detrimental to our physical, mental and emotional health. It can lead to obesity, heart issues, depression and increased anxiety. Exercise is important for comprehensive wellness. You don’t have to live at the gym, but do what you can to work more movement into your routine each day.

Skipping The Dentist

Very few of us enjoy going to the dentist. Not only can it be an uncomfortable experience, but many of us fear getting bad news about our dental health. Unfortunately, putting off going to the dentist can just exacerbate oral health issues. Ice chewing is a bad habit many people are guilty of. Why is it that dentist keep telling you to stop it? It may result in a broken molar and you may end up needing dental crowns, just take a deep breath and call your dentist. You’ll feel so much better once you’ve taken care of the issue and your dental health will be better for it in the long run.

Poor Sleep

Thanks to our increasingly busy lives, most of us need all the hours we can get in order to accomplish our responsibilities and goals. However, sacrificing sleep in the name of productivity will just hurt you in the long run. In fact, if you want to operate at your most effective and most productive, a good night’s rest is essential.

It’s tempting to ignore any thoughts about how our bad habits might be hurting us, but this pattern just makes our problems worse in the long run. Take charge of your life and confront those bad habits that you’d like to fix.