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BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Let’s be honest. Most of us have habits we wish we could kick. Maybe it’s venting too much after a stressful day, putting off that one task for tomorrow (again), or chatting about a coworker’s awkward lunchroom behavior. We often see these behaviors as signs of weakness, laziness, or drama. But what if some of these so-called “bad habits” are actually doing us a favor? According to psychologists, many of the behaviors we judge ourselves for are actually tools for coping, connection, and cognitive clarity when used with intention. The science suggests we might want to stop beating ourselves up for being human and start recognizing the sneaky intelligence behind our most common quirks. Here are three habits that, in moderation, might be helping you more than hurting you. 1. Gossip (when it’s done right) “Gossip” tends to get a bad rap. We hear the word and think of whispered drama and malicious rumors. But psychologists define it more simply as talking about someone who isn’t present, and that, it turns out, is something we all do for surprisingly good reasons. A 2021 study published in Current Biology found that gossip plays a key role in what scientists call vicarious learning. By chatting about who helped out, who broke the rules, or how someone handled a tough situation, we’re sharing social norms and making sense of our relationships without even realizing it. “Gossip functions almost like a social guidance system,” the study explains. It helps people coordinate values, build trust, and feel connected to a shared moral compass. When you hear, “You’re not wrong to feel weird about that,” it’s not just validating. It’s calming. It tells your brain that you’re not alone in how you see the world. Of course, not all gossip is helpful. Mean-spirited rumors or gossip meant to harm someone’s reputation can erode trust. But most casual, everyday gossip isn’t destructive. In fact, when it’s thoughtful and used with care, it can be a powerful tool for social bonding and emotional regulation. 2. Venting (with the right audience) We all know someone who seems to complain about everything. But targeted venting, which means sharing frustration with someone who listens well, can be a healthy, even necessary, way to regulate emotions. A 2014 neuroimaging study found that people who talked about difficult experiences with a supportive partner showed increased brain activity in areas linked to relief and reward. Basically, even if the situation stays the same, talking it out lightens the emotional load. Naming emotions also helps us understand them better. When you say, “I’m so frustrated about what happened in that meeting,” it becomes a clear problem to manage rather than a vague cloud of stress. Plus, a good listener often brings perspective, normalizing your feelings or helping you reframe them. “People feel more known, more understood and less alone with their stress,” the research suggests. Venting, when done with purpose and in the right context, can deepen relationships and improve emotional health. That said, not all complaining is created equal. Chronic venting without perspective can lead to an emotional spiral, or what psychologists call co-rumination. The key is to vent intentionally, not endlessly. Used wisely, this kind of emotional sharing is less about negativity and more about connecting and clearing mental space. 3. Procrastinating (strategically) Procrastination has long been cast as the enemy of productivity. But researchers now say that not all procrastination is created equal. In fact, a type called active procrastination may actually help some people work better. Psychologists Shin-Hsien Chu and Jin Nam Choi introduced the idea that some people delay tasks on purpose because they know they perform best under pressure. These so-called active procrastinators don’t avoid work out of fear or laziness. They feel in control, stay relatively calm, and often deliver great results. Other studies in creativity science support this idea. Taking a break from a task can give your brain time to subconsciously process information, leading to better insights later. That pause is known as the incubation effect, and it’s the secret weapon of many creative thinkers. Strategic delay can also help you avoid rushing into decisions. Instead of reacting impulsively, a short pause lets you gather details, reflect, and make better choices. Of course, not all procrastination is helpful. Passive procrastination, where someone avoids tasks due to anxiety or self-doubt, often leads to stress and lower performance. The difference lies in intention and control. When you’re actively procrastinating, you’re managing your time strategically, not just stalling. Your habits might be helping more than you think It might feel strange to imagine that gossiping, venting, or procrastinating could be good for you, but research keeps showing us that human behavior is rarely black and white. These habits evolved for a reason. They help us connect, think, process emotions, and navigate complex social dynamics. That doesn’t mean we should indulge in every impulse without thought, but it does mean we might want to cut ourselves some slack. What looks like a flaw on the surface is often just a coping tool in disguise. So the next time you find yourself venting to a friend, putting off a task for tomorrow, or talking through that weird interaction at work, consider this: you might just be doing exactly what your brain needs to thrive.The post 3 so-called bad habits that might actually be making you a better person first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM For millions living with age-related macular degeneration, seeing the world head-on becomes an exercise in frustration. Faces blur, road signs fade, and once-clear scenes dissolve into a grey smudge at the center of vision. Existing treatments can only slow the damage, but sadly not reverse it. That may soon change. In a first-of-its-kind clinical trial, researchers have successfully tested a stem cell-based treatment that could potentially restore central vision in patients with advanced dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most common form of the disease. The early results are promising. Though still in its early stages, the phase 1/2a trial suggests that surgically transplanted stem cells cannot only halt but possibly improve vision. This is a development that scientists and ophthalmologists have long been striving for. What’s new about this treatment? Unlike ‘wet’ macular degeneration, which progresses rapidly, the more common ‘dry’ form is a slow breakdown of the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, which support the system for the eye’s light-sensing tissues. Over time, tiny deposits of fat and protein damage the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, focused vision. The new approach involves transplanting eye bank-sourced RPE stem cells under the retina. These cells are intended to replace the damaged ones and restore the support system that allows the eye to function properly. The procedure, tested in a small group of patients aged 71 to 86, involves injecting 50,000 RPE stem cells into the worst-affected eye through a single surgical injection targeting the upper macula. A cautious trial yields surprising results As a phase 1/2a trial, the primary goal was safety. And on that front, the treatment passed with flying colors. Researchers observed no immune rejection, no tumor formation, and no serious side effects directly linked to the stem cells themselves. Some minor complications arose, but only ones typical for retinal surgeries, and none were cause for concern. What surprised researchers most, however, was the unexpected vision improvement. “Although we were pleased with the safety data, the exciting part was that their vision was also improving,” said Rajesh Rao, ophthalmologist and physician-scientist at Michigan Medicine. “We were surprised by the magnitude of vision gain in the most severely affected patients who received the adult stem cell-derived RPE transplants.” That magnitude was significant. Among the three participants with the poorest baseline vision—measured between 20/200 and 20/800—each could see an average of 21 more letters on a standard eye chart one year after treatment. In contrast, their untreated eyes saw no improvement, strongly suggesting that the stem cell transplant was responsible for the visual gains. Who was involved in the study? From an initial group of 18 screened individuals, six patients were selected based on the severity of their dry AMD. The trial included two subgroups: three with more advanced vision loss and three with moderate impairment. The study was published in the peer-reviewed journal Cell Stem Cell, marking a milestone in ophthalmic regenerative medicine. Earlier lab studies had already demonstrated that the transplanted stem cells retained their retinal identity, meaning they were likely to perform the tasks of natural RPEs. The cells also showed no signs of toxicity, which helped clear the way for human testing. Next steps: testing higher doses While the initial round used a relatively low dose of 50,000 cells, the team has begun monitoring patients receiving higher doses (150,000 and 250,000 cells) to determine whether the vision gains scale with cell count and remain safe. If successful, these results could accelerate the path to phase 3 clinical trials, the final step before potential regulatory approval. The hope, Rao says, is that the therapy might one day be widely available to the millions affected by AMD, many of whom currently have few or no options once the disease progresses past a certain point. “This level of vision gain has not been seen in this group of patients with advanced dry AMD,” Rao added. A potential paradigm shift in treating vision loss Age-related macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide, particularly among older adults. Until now, treatment options for dry AMD have focused on slowing progression, not reversing it. This stem cell therapy could transform how ophthalmologists approach retinal degeneration by offering not just management but actual improvement. While more research is needed, especially with larger and more diverse populations, these early results represent a hopeful step forward for millions whose central vision has faded, but whose world may still come back into focus. Source study: Cell Stem Cell—Safety and tolerability of RPESC-RPE transplantation in patients with dry age-related macular degeneration: Low-dose clinical outcomesThe post New stem cell treatment shows promise for reversing vision loss in macular degeneration patients first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.