Rules are the skeletal muscles of life; without them, civilization would be severely crippled. While rules make life liveable and people civil, we follow some without knowing how they started or why.
Some rules are good and necessary, while some are just things we inherited and never stop to question if the supposed consequences are true. Perhaps they were once needed for a particular context, but they’ve become dated and ridiculous.
Whether at home, in school, in the office, or even in the military, society continually pushes us to follow certain rules, and people often do so without good reason.
1. Formal Wear to Work
Suits garnished with ties and proper cufflinks are the rules of most offices, but why do most people follow this office dress code? It’s not always true that wearing formal clothing makes one more competent or productive, even if it can be important in some environments and sectors.
2. Clearing Your Plate
Almost all mothers had one [of many] dinner rules: clear your plate. Often taught in childhood, ensuring you eat everything on your plate can lead to overeating and discomfort. A healthier approach would be to listen to your body’s hunger and fullness cues.
3. Eating at Specific Times
The rules say you eat breakfast in the morning, lunch in the afternoon, and dinner in the evening. Many people have followed this rule for years, often eating even when not hungry because it’s “time to eat.” Once again, it’s better to listen to your body and eat when you’re hungry.
4. No Swimming After Eating
You must have heard this rule whenever you wanted to take a dip in the pool after lunch. The rule suggests that swimming immediately after eating can lead to cramps and drowning, but there’s no scientific evidence to support this claim. Swimming with a full stomach can certainly be uncomfortable, but isn’t necessarily dangerous.
5. Matching Shoes and Belts
The rule for gentlemen’s dressing was that the shoes must always match the belt, and men everywhere followed this rule as if it were pulled from fashion. Well, it turns out you don’t have to wear your dark tan belt with your dark tan shoes. The rule no longer applies.
6. No Talking to Strangers
It’s the first rule kids get when they’re old enough to leave home. While caution is important, teaching children to avoid all strangers can hinder their social development and may not necessarily keep them safe.
“Stranger danger” is important, but so it the confidence to be able to be able to ask questions or for help if needed- there’s a fine line to team them the difference.
7. Don’t Wear Socks and Sandals
Fashion police say, “Thou shall not wear socks with sandals,” and many people have followed that rule faithfully. There’s no practical reason you can’t wear socks with sandals; older generations and certain cultures have been doing it for years.
8. Sit Far from the TV
Parents get palpitations when their kids watch TV with their noses touching the screens. Not sitting too close to the screen has been said as a rule to keep from hurting their eyes, but this theory isn’t true. It does not damage the eyes like parents worry, thank goodness!
9. No Lifting Weights in Pregnancy
Weight lifting in pregnancy looks like a dangerous extreme sport, and women are told to avoid it. Weightlifting can help maintain strength and fitness during pregnancy if done properly and under medical supervision. Pregnant women are often capable of much more than society gives them credit for, continuing to lift, work full-time jobs, and wrangle other kiddos in the house.
10. No Showering During a Thunderstorm
While it’s true that lightning can travel through plumbing, the risk of being struck while showering during a thunderstorm is extremely low and not worth worrying about. As long as a severe thunderstorm isn’t rolling through (that might require you to find cover from a tornado or hurricane), go ahead and take a shower when you want one.
11. Buying Items on Sale
If it’s on sale, you must buy it, right? Most people do that, but it’s a financial faux pas. You really don’t have to buy things because they’re on sale. You know what’s cheaper than an item on sale? Nothing (as in, don’t buy it, and you’ll save the full amount!).
12. Don’t Go Outside with Wet Hair in Winter
This rule says you’ll catch a cold if you do. Going outside with wet hair in cold weather won’t cause illness. In fact, it’s been shown repeatedly that cold weather isn’t the cause of most winter illnesses. Rather, the time we spend indoors in closer quarters makes it easier to spread germs during winter months.
13. No Walking on the Grass
Why? It’s assumed that walking on grass will kill it, but research says it doesn’t. Go ahead, walk, jump, and play in the grass- it’s resilient.
14. Jump Over Cracks on The Pavement
The longstanding rule has been that stepping on pavement cracks brings bad luck. However, there is no logical reason to believe this, as it is definitely more of a superstition than a rule. If you have poor balance, step over the crack. Otherwise, we promise it won’t break any mothers’ back.
15. Avoiding the Number 13
For years, the number 13 has been a chokehold for many people, who fear and avoid it and even give it a phobia name—triskaidekaphobia. Many buildings omit the 13th floor and avoid having 13 guests at a table. Despite its prevalence, there’s no logical reason to avoid this number.
While some rules may seem dumb, they may have been established to keep people, especially children, safe or to encourage better behavior. Regardless, it’s okay to stop and consider why we follow certain rules before following them blindly.
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I’m a Language and Literary Studies (Honors) graduate with 11 years of experience in magazine and blog writing and content creation. I’m passionate about storytelling for change and believe in the power of words to make a difference. My writing is thought-provoking, accessible, and engaging, focusing on the Psychology of human behavior, complex social issues, personal experiences, and the latest trends. I’m a wife and a Mom of three.
