What are examples of guilty pleasures?

A Pint of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream

Although I follow a fairly balanced diet, for guilty pleasures, I sometimes indulge in a pint of Ben & Jerry's ice cream!

Though it's a bit pricey for an occasional treat, there's nothing like enjoying a creamy pint of Milky Way or Cookie Dough after dinner. Though I'm mostly content with just having a few spoonfuls before bed, sometimes I can't help but finish the entire pint off in one sitting.

It's definitely not my healthiest habit, but it sure is delicious!

True-Crime Podcasts

True crime is a genre that has taken off in a big way over the past 10 years. It's a genre that's perfectly suited for podcasts. There are so many to choose from: those recorded from bedrooms, and those from reputable media outlets like Law & Crime and WTOP.

Professionally done shows written and hosted by journalists are worth paying attention to; they don't come across as "murder porn." They're research-heavy and told with the victims' families in mind. Occasionally, you may even hear stories of triumph amidst all the doom and gloom. The best true-crime podcasts make for riveting listens, perfect for long commutes or nights when you feel like hearing a story instead of reading a book.

Collecting Christmas Decorations

My guilty pleasure is collecting Christmas decorations! Every year, I look forward to the holiday season and the chance to add to my collection. I love to search for unique decorations that I can proudly display in my home.

I especially enjoy finding pieces that have a special meaning to me, like a vintage ornament that reminds me of my childhood or a handmade decoration from a local artist. I take great joy in decorating my home with my collection and watching the sparkle of the lights and the twinkle of the ornaments bring a smile to my face.

Eating Fast Food

I would say that is one of the guilty pleasures that I still have to get rid of, but it's kind of difficult to do because of my routine. As someone with a busy schedule, it is sometimes hard to make time to prepare healthy homemade foods. At times, I even forget to eat because I am too busy focusing on some tasks or talking with clients.

Therefore, my last resort will be to order fast food, which is very easy to do and will also not take a lot of time to ease my hunger. It would be a lie to say that they are not delicious, because they are, but unfortunately, they can be too unhealthy if we cannot keep track of the calories and do not get the fresh meals that we are supposed to have every day.

Eating Chocolates

I am a self-confessed chocoholic, and it is the sweetest pleasure that I crave the most. I always reach out for this sinful treat when I need some "pick-me-up" feeling. They say that there are two things that make these bars of delight a happy choice. One is "cacao."

It is the key ingredient of chocolate and is said to have a mood-enhancing effect. Another one is tryptophan, an amino acid that helps make melatonin and serotonin. Melatonin helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle and serotonin produces the mood-elevating substance, also known as the happiness hormone. Two good reasons to munch on those delicacies!

Country Music

The secret guilty pleasure that I have is listening to country music. John Denver, Johnny Cash, Shania Twain, and Hank Williams are artists whose music occasionally keeps playing in my headphones.

Music can affect people in many ways. Here, country music improves my mood regardless of whether the song is lively and upbeat or rather melancholic. It's also a journey back to the vibrant second half of the 20th century when some of the country's greatest artists were creating their hits. This kind of music also brings to mind family movie nights with westerns often watched on TV, such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid or Dances with Wolves.

Late Night Gaming

Gaming is not a bad undertaking, but instead of having some much-needed rest, I spend my late-night hours gaming on the desktop. It acts as a distraction from the thoughts of work and mind fatigue. I tend to be caught up in business undertakings throughout the better part of my daytime, thus leaving me with no room to game. It's a vice that deprives me of some much-needed rest, but I enjoy the session nonetheless.

Binge-Watching Cartoons from My Childhood

Binge-watching my favorite cartoon show, which I used to watch when I was a kid, is my guilty pleasure. I have always loved how the cartoons and their characters from old times had a feel-good factor.

Watching those cartoons always brings back good old memories and reminds me that life is supposed to be associated with finding happiness in everything, working hard, and being honest. They remind me that life is much more than getting troubled by all the temporary problems. Oswald is my favorite, followed by Noddy, Tom and Jerry, Thomas and Friends, and Mickey Mouse.

Sitcoms After a Long Day

It has to be my favorite sitcoms (a lot of them are on Netflix). Comedies like The Crew—which I've binge-watched several times over, and includes my other favorite shows such as That 70's Show, and Two and a Half Men.

Besides sitcoms, basically any good series streaming on Netflix. Although I do occasionally regret watching reality shows, where you can feel in your gut that you are watching something scripted.

As long as it's not really harmful to anybody around you and you don't overdo your "guilty pleasures", I'd say you can dive into it to keep yourself sane.

Try not to indulge only in unhealthy guilty pleasures (I'm sure you know which is which).

Gluttony

I love eating, and sometimes I eat more than I should. While gluttony is one of the Seven Deadly Sins, there is no joy in life quite like pounding an entire large pizza by myself. This joy is not just limited to pizza; it extends to buffet lines, drive-through fast-food restaurants, and family cookouts.