I don’t know if you caught onto this or not, but I drink Diet Coke. In all honesty, I drink more of it than I’d truly like to. Maybe it’s an addiction, maybe it’s just love. Maybe it’s both. Who knows. The problem is not that I don’t drink enough water, because I drink ~180 oz. a day. It’s just that I drink more than enough Diet Coke.
I can talk about wanting to cut back. I can actually cut back; I’ve done it on and off over the past couple of years. If I wanted to put the energy into it (and drink even more water), I could probably quit it. But, I don’t know, I guess if that’s my “bad” habit… I’m okay with that.
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See, I could worry about the amount of Diet Coke I consume. I could worry about it a whole lot. You’ve probably seen the studies that claim that aspartame does all sorts of terrible things to you. I certainly have. I’ll never, ever claim that Diet Coke is healthy. But I still drink it.
In general, I take pretty good care of myself. My diet consists of a lot of healthy foods. I drink a lot of water. I sleep as much as I can (even if that’s not very much). I’m pretty physically active.
And because of all of that, I actively choose not to worry about my Diet Coke consumption. If a can few cans of bubbly, artificially-sweet caffeine makes it somehow easier to get through any given day, I’ll take ’em, no questions asked.
The point? There’s no use in worrying about perfection, whether it’s with your diet or anything else. Sure, choosing plain yogurt over flavored, whole grain bread over white, and water over Diet Coke is technically healthier. But if you want the sweeter yogurt, the fluffier bread, or the fizzier drink, it’s not going to kill you.
Similarly, scrolling through social media before bed probably isn’t the way to get best night’s sleep, but if that’s your “bad habit”, I’d say you’re doing alright. Choosing to read trashy magazines over classic literature isn’t going to enrich you much, but if it takes your mind off some stress, do it.
From finances to relationships, work/academic struggles to serious illness, there are so many big things that can bring worry and stress into our lives. We’re really good at taking little things that shouldn’t cause stress, like what we wear and eat, and, well, worrying about them. Usually, they are not worth it.
Being familiar with good, healthy habits is absolutely smart. It gives you a pretty good starting point. Ultimately, though, I think you have to know what the best choice for you is at any given time. Taking the “healthier” route is only truly going to make you healthier if it doesn’t cause you extra stress or frustration. So I don’t worry about my Diet Coke habit. You know, unless it gets too expensive.
Do you have any “bad” habits? Are you working to change them?
I’d love to hear any other thoughts you have!
We all have our bad habits, and it definitely seems like you’re balancing yours out just fine. I drink wayyyy too much coffee. I’m trying to switch to tea for part of the day, but I love it and I drink a lot of water to compensate.
Exactly. I think as long as you aren’t totally replacing truly healthy things with less nutritious ones, you’re doing more than okay. 😀
Yeeeesss. I always have at least one person telling me to stop drinking Diet Coke. I balance it out, so it doesn’t bother me. My brother is the biggest culprit of yelling at me for it – but the way I see it, he loves to go out and drink, drinks with meals and friends, etc, while I rarely, rarely drink (I don’t like the taste) so it works itself out.
Yes! I think a lot of people have something like that in their lives – something they might technically be better off without but just don’t want to give up. And as long as it’s not seriously harming your life or affecting you/your relationships, I think having those little vices is 100% okay!
I love diet soda- I don’t really discriminate when it comes to what kind. I know it is not healthy and I do my best to flush it out with lots of water (very scientific, I know).
Haha that’s my reasoning, too 😉
I am really working on not browsing blogs like right up to the very minute I crawl into bed, especially as I’ve been having eye difficulties. But I always think, “just one more _____…” 😛
Recently, I’ve been hearing more and more encouraging messages on this or similar themes, and I’m really starting to think it’s something I need to hear/pay attention to. I have a hard time being an all-or-nothing type, and once I start eating more “healthy”, exercising more, adhering to what’s commonly seen as a “good” habit, I tend to stick to it religiously, even if it doesn’t make me happier or even is making my life miserable, just because I think I’m a failure if I “fall off the wagon”. But sometimes, relief from the stress and tension is what really will improve our lives the most, even if it’s what some might see as a little indulgence. Thank you for this, Ellen!
You’re very welcome! Yeah, I’m a very all-or-nothing, black-and-white person, too. But I definitely think it’s healthier to do healthy stuff you enjoy (eat the healthy foods you like, exercise the way you like, relax the way you like) than it is to do all the things you hear are healthy even if you hate them. Sometimes, sure. All the time? No way. Of course, you should also do some of the things you love that might not be the best for you and you should do them because you love them!
Yup, I love this because worry, I think, is one of the biggest unhealthy habits I find myself falling into, but when I choose not to worry and just trust, life is so much simpler.
So true! I work on this daily!
Yay for Diet Coke and white bread and salad and wheat bread.
YES, please.
personally i think this is an awesome and refreshing approach to your ‘bad’ habit. We live our lives in a healthy and positive way to be able to indulge in the things that we love most. You’re right – there are sooo many other things that can bring stress into our lives. A can of coke here and should not be something that adds to those worries.
My bad habit is cheese. I can come home from work and eat so much of it that i’ll fill up before i even get started on dinner!
I love that view of healthy living: “to be able to indulge in the things that we love most”. Perfect.
Haha I love cheese! I’ve definitely been known to fill up on snacks and find myself a little less hungry for meals 😛
I don’t drink much soda (diet or otherwise) but I’m 100% with you on this mindset. Health isn’t all or nothing. I eat too much processed cheese (I love Kraft on my grilled cheese, sue me!), drink too much coffee/wine, and I’m ok! I mostly eat healthy, whole foods, I exercise, and I drink tons of water. It balances out in the end. There are worse habits (truly harmful ones) to have.
Kraft grilled cheese is pure comfort food 🙂 LOVE it. And yes, there are so many worse habits to have!
I agree with this post 100%. I’m not a soda drinker, but I am a huge coffee drinker- my friends and family say I’m addicted. I think everyone is aloud to have a few things they are obsessed with and everyone is aloud to ( and should!!) break a few rules that our society instills into us. Perfection is boring.
Perfection IS boring. Yes. And, sure, I think everyone should have their “thing(s)”. It makes life a little more fun 🙂
I agree! I think our culture gets too focused to the point of obsession of all the things they should be limiting, and frankly it gets overwhelming to me sometimes! I also have this rebellious streak that whenever someone says you should avoid X, I immediately want to go have it. Especially if the person is always telling me something new to avoid; first it’s refined sugar, then soda, then refined flours, then store-bought bars, then gluten,, etc. I go yeah, ok, good for you! What really inspired me was something or naturopath said, “Everything in moderation, *including* moderation.” It’s kind of become my motto… 😀
Haha I definitely enjoy all those things you’re supposed to avoid. Store-bought bars are so convenient! Love that motto 🙂
I quit drinking Diet Coke about 2 months ago and I still miss it every day!! Diet Coke > everything. I only quit to prove to myself that I could, haha. 🙂 I really like this post – I feel like healthy living is a balance, and there’s so much more to worry about than a silly “bad habit.”