You probably feel like your daily routines
are just fine, so it might surprise you to
find out how much you're actually doing
wrong.

Just because we've been doing something one
way for as long as we can remember doesn't
mean it's necessarily the best way.
For just about every run-of-the-mill activity
we do, there's a life-hack out there
proclaiming you can somehow do it better.
And if you had the chance to be the best of
your friends at breathing or even sitting, why
not at least give it a try? Go for the gold in
washing your hands or taking out the garbage
and you'll be well on your way to a better you.
Know these 10 things you're doing wrong and
then maybe you can finally start doing things
RIGHT.

1. Breathing
You breathe about 17,000 times a day, but
your technique might be flawed. Slower,
deeper breathing that comes from the lower
diaphragm (or even better the surrounding
area of the diaphragm) can help you relieve
stress, lower your blood pressure and improve
athletic performance by increasing stamina
and reducing fatigue. Most of us are chest
breathers, but developing a more focused
approach can help you feel better day to day,
especially if you're also exercising.

2. Showering
If you're shampooing more than a few times a
week, you may be stripping away important
oils in your hair - called sebum - and actually
making your hair greasier: As sebum is
stripped away, it causes oil glands on your
scalp to compensate by overproducing more
sebum, giving your hair an oily consistency.
You also may be taking way too long in the
shower. Long hot showers dry out your skin,
use quite a bit of water (around 17 gallons
each time), and can remove too much"good
bacteria."

3. Working Out
Stretching before exercising can actually be
counterintuitive as it temporarily weakens
muscles and might not even reduce soreness
in the days following exercise.
As for your actual workouts, spending time
lifting lighter weights with more repetitions
actually doesn't have greater slimming benefits
than lifting heavier weights, and a lot of
exercise doesn't have any slimming benefits at
all. You also might want to rethink scheduling
workouts every day.

4. Eating
Making sure to eat breakfast probably doesn't
help you lose weight. You also might be eating
too much meat (especially if it's red), and you
probably don't need to be told this, but fast
food is bad for you.
Also, no matter what you eat, eating it too fast
may disrupt your body's natural chemical
signals, causing you to consume more than
you should, which could lead to a greater risk
of obesity.

5. The Opposite of Eating
You should really be squatting instead of
sitting in the toilet. If the idea of simply
hovering doesn't sound all too appealing, there
are quite a few different ways to help you get
in that squat position. Just make sure you're
not straining.
Oh, and you've also probably been placing
toilet seat covers on backwards. On top of all
this, after you're done, you really need to be
closing that lid, as molecules from whatever is
in the bowl will fly into the air, making your
toothbrush disgusting.

6. Washing Your Hands
Only a few people wash their hands correctly,
so there's a very good chance you're doing this
one wrong. Although the base definition of
washing the right way means "rubbing
vigorously with soap and water for at least 20
seconds," there are even more things you're
probably doing wrong. Antibacterial soaps
have been criticized over their use of the
chemical "triclosan," which may cause
antibiotic resistance and potentially even
hormone alteration. On top of this, there may
actually be no advantage to using antibacterial
soaps when it comes to reducing your chances
of getting sick.

7. Sleeping
A lot of people are not sleeping correctly and
are at risk of significantly altering their
"memory, learning, creativity, productivity and
emotional stability." On top of this, there
really is a sweet spot for how much sleep you
should get. Anything outside of these regular
sleep hours could have long-term health risks
that have been associated with shortened
lifespans. But it isn't just sleep behavior that
can help you get this right. Tips for improving
your sleep include exercising, turning off your
phone, or simply tricking your brain into
thinking you're dead tired.

8. Being Productive
It's actually impossible to multitask and those
who come close are simply switching between
tasks very quickly, which usually decreases
focus. If you're someone who likes to power
through tasks, you should know that your
willpower is actually a finite resource and that
taking breaks could significantly boost your
mental capacities to do work. Here's another
reminder to make sure you're making time for
sleep, because on top of helping ideas solidify
in your head, it can also - surprise - make you
more productive.

9. Shaving
First off, shaving doesn't cause hair to come
back thicker - that is a myth. On a shave-to-
shave basis, you should really be making sure
to prepare your skin with the right creams and
heating techniques to make sure you aren't
totally wrecking your face, legs, armpits, etc.
Also make sure to shave at night if you can, as
the process leaves your skin ultra sensitive.

10. Brushing Your Teeth
First off, you should never brush your teeth
directly after having an acidic meal or drink,
because that can push the acid deeper into
your enamel. Instead, wait 30 minutes or
simply rinse your mouth with water. Some
basic tips: Brush for two minutes each time,
using a soft brush and not rubbing your teeth
and gums too hard.

Source: naij.com

Nice tips.