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People Who Work in Healthcare, Fitness, Nutrition, or Mental Health: The Quiet Habits That Are Killing Us

· 4 min read

Ever walked into a health‑related office and felt a subtle, invisible toxin in the air?
It’s not the bleach or the coffee—it's the quiet habits that quietly sabotage our long‑term health.
Here’s a roundup of the most lethal (and hilariously common) habits you’ll find in clinics, gyms, and therapy rooms:

1. Self‑Criticism on Steroids​

In the age of “you’re a genius” memes, some people have taken self‑criticism to a whole new level.
“I cannot trust myself.”
“I don’t deserve good things.”
“I am unlovable.”
If you’re a health professional, you’re probably already the first line of defense against depression—so why become your own worst enemy?
Result: Lower self‑esteem, higher cortisol, and a slightly increased risk of developing a new habit of binge‑watching self‑help documentaries.

2. The “Sit‑and‑Think‑It‑All‑Out” Syndrome​

We’re all busy. You’re on your feet all day, so why not just sit around and let the brain do all the work?
The truth? Idle brains are a breeding ground for procrastination, rumination, and the occasional existential crisis.
Result: Increased risk of forgetting to exercise, coupled with a dangerously low “brain‑exercise” level.
Side effect: The office chair may start looking like a throne.

3. The Butt‑Shoving Revolution​

If you’re an ER nurse, you’re probably familiar with the phrase “shove it up the ass.”
But we’re not talking about actual butt‑shoving.
We’re talking about the metaphorical butt‑shoving of unnecessary medical jargon into patients’ ears, the shoving of new guidelines into the back of a drawer, and the shoving of our own doubts into a never‑ending mental stack.
Result: Confusion, anxiety, and the occasional “I have no idea what I just did.”
Pro tip: Try speaking in plain English—your patients might thank you, and your brain might thank you, too.

4. The Unexpected Object Saga​

Every ER nurse has at least one “unexpected object” story.
We’re talking about the time a patient’s coconut was found in their stomach, the tissue that turned into a mini‑tornado in the triage room, or the mysterious sock that keeps disappearing from the linen drawer.
Result: A lifetime of “what if” questions and an uncanny ability to spot a missing sock in a hurricane.
Fun fact: The average ER nurse has seen at least ten such stories—so if you’re a doctor, you’re in the right place.

5. Bleach‑Fever and Tooth‑Decay​

Tooth whitening was once the pinnacle of dental fashion, until we learned that bleaching + charcoal toothpaste = enamel erosion.
Result: Tooth decay, a cascade of dental issues, and a surprisingly strong link to cardiovascular disease.
TL;DR: Keep the bleach in the bathroom, not in your mouth.

TL;DR​

The quiet habits that quietly wreck our health:

  • Self‑criticism that makes us feel like we’re on a personal “no‑trust” list.
  • Sitting around and letting the brain do all the heavy lifting.
  • Butt‑shoving—both literal and metaphorical—into our patients’ lives.
  • Unexpected object stories that make you question your life choices.
  • Tooth‑bleaching that’s actually a recipe for heart disease.

If you’re a healthcare, fitness, nutrition, or mental‑health professional, remember: the quietest habits can be the loudest killers. Keep an eye on them, laugh at them, and maybe, just maybe, ditch them for a healthier, happier you.

People telling themselves horrible things about themselves

“I cannot trust myself.”
“I don't deserve good things.”
“I am unlovable.”

Sitting around and not moving or working out your brain

My wife, an ER nurse, would like people to stop shoving things up their asses.

Every ER nurse has that one “unexpected object” story.
Or ten

Teeth whitening, bleaching specifically. It's not such a thing anymore, thank god. But repeated bleaching and abrasion (charcoal toothpaste etc.) erodes enamel which sets the stage for tooth decay and a resulting cascade of issues, which is strongly linked to cardiovascular disease.