Guilty Pleasures: What Do Yours Reveal About You?

A guilty pleasure is by definition something that a person enjoys, even though they know they aren't "supposed to". They are often so taboo in our own minds that we keep our desire and enjoyment of them a secret from others. Despite the remorse that these guilty pleasures invoke, even the purest of heart harbors them.

The list of guilty pleasures enjoyed varies widely from person to person. We all have different visions of morality and civility, and that shows in the vast array of what each person defines as their guilty pleasure. For some it might be chocolate, for others it might be a good book. So what does guilty pleasures say about you? Let's take a look.

Guilty Pleasure: Spending Time Alone

Your life is a whirlwind of networking, business meetings, bouncy children, an attentive spouse and social events and you secretly love to spend time by yourself away from the chaos.

What this says about you: You are self-aware. It's not that you're an introvert, but you really need time alone to re-center yourself and recharge before taking on the next big meeting, cocktail party or child's tantrum.

Get the pleasure without the guilt: Schedule time for yourself. Whether it's 20 minutes a day reading a good book in a dark corner of your bedroom, or a monthly getaway to your local spa for some cuticle TLC; taking a break from the world around you will help you to cope with the pandemonium.

Guilty Pleasure: Being Disorganized

While the world around you makes sure that there is a place for everything, and everything is in its place, your organization style is more "freeform". It feels good to let the cards fall where they may, and makes life into an ongoing game of scavenger hunt!

What this says about you: You are creative, and don't have time to get bogged down by the details. You are spontaneous, and would rather spend the afternoon letting your hair down than micro-managing your home or office. Besides, there's always time to clean tomorrow.

Get the pleasure without the guilt: Pick one day a week to sort through the piles and either trash, file or complete everything on your desk. This will help you catch projects with deadlines before they pass, and help you to keep only relevant papers and projects at your fingertips without feeling like you are an organization freak.

Guilty Pleasure: Daytime TV

It's no secret that there are an abundance of things to do during the day besides watch mindless talk shows and court TV. And yet, it feels so good to lounge on the couch and absorb the dribble pouring out from the media-fed frenzy that is daytime TV.

What this says about you: You are an observer. If you weren't on the couch watching the latest courtroom drama, you'd be in the park people-watching. You enjoy watching the drama unfold, whether it's real or staged, and seeing where all of the participants end up.

Get the pleasure without the guilt: Get up during the commercial breaks and work on a quick project. Taking a couple of minutes to start a load of laundry, load the dishwasher, take out the garbage or sort the mail will help you to feel productive and keep you from turning into a couch potato.

Guilty Pleasure: Playing the Lottery

Even though the odds are poor, sometimes you just can't help but buy a ticket for the big jackpot. You have as much chance at the winnings as the next guy, right?

What this says about you: You are a dreamer. Whether it's the purchase of a scratch-it, or working on a new project, you like to take time to think about the potential that this single act might have on you. Today you're selling tires, but tomorrow you could be sipping cocktails with Paris in Paris!

Get the pleasure without the guilt: Whether you play the lottery religiously, or just when you happen to notice that the jackpot is climbing, only spend a couple dollars at a time. Playing with pocket-change, and not your life savings, will help to minimize your disappointments.

Guilty Pleasure: Driving Fast

You've heard the lecture from the Driver's Education teacher that driving fast is a dangerous way to break the law. You've seen car wrecks and noticed that speed depreciates your Miles Per Gallon. Deep inside though, sometimes you want to go fast, and can't help but find yourself speeding down the interstate.

What this says about you: You are a risk-taker, and aren't afraid to bend the rules. You know the ramifications if you get caught, but the rush of the wind in your hair is worth it!

Get the pleasure without the guilt: Avoid the traffic violation by finding a local track to let your inner speed-demon loose on. Many race-tracks have events where you can bring your personal vehicle out for a spin, or have driving clinics where they provide you with a car to take off in.

In the end our guilty pleasures aren't a definition of who we are, but are results of us pushing our personalities to new levels in order to meet the requirements and responsibilities of day to day life. We all need to find ways to satiate our guilty pleasures (within reason, of course) as they are a reflection of our true selves, and are often an escape from the mundane details and stress that surround us.