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Let's start with the basics. What exactly is a guilty pleasure? It is something that brings you joy but also makes you feel a bit guilty or embarrassed. Why? Because it might seem silly, unproductive, or frivolous. It is the kind of thing that people around you might not get — they might laugh, think you are odd, or believe you are wasting time when you could be doing something more "useful."
But here is the thing: all those “people around you” have their own guilty pleasures. Maybe someone spends a Saturday morning binge-watching YouTube shows all day without getting out of bed. Another person, who usually avoids fast food, might secretly order a burger and savour every bite when they are alone. Someone else might scroll through Instagram, checking if their favorite celebrity couple has broken up yet. So next time you indulge in your guilty pleasure, remember you are not alone — we all have those little things we secretly love.
So, why do we feel guilty?
The answer is super simple. We are so used to living in a world where everyone is hyper-productive, successful, and constantly busy that we have become bogged down by social pressure. Yep, we are just afraid of not meeting societal expectations. For some, there is an added layer of perfectionism: always needing to be on top of things, in a good mood, getting everything done perfectly and on time, with no room for enjoyment.
Let’s remember that guilty pleasures are, first and foremost, pleasures. Let’s cut ourselves some slack and enjoy them.
One Guilty Pleasure — Different Things to Feel Guilty About
Psychologists at Nafsi Health have made an interesting observation: people from different cultures feel guilty about different things. What makes us feel guilty can vary widely depending on where we come from.
Dr Dana Ihsan, Psychiatrist & Medical Director of Nafsi Health: "There is a vast amount of information on guilty pleasure in various psychological literature, websites, and social media. Rather than repeating what's already written, I want to share my own observations about how patients from different cultures and religions define or experience guilty pleasure.
In Western Europe, for example, many people feel guilty about spending hours watching popular TV series. Their guilt stems from the perception that they are wasting time that could be used more productively. However, they don't generally feel guilty about the content of the shows.
In contrast, when I moved to the Middle East, I noticed a different perspective. Patients there often don't feel guilty about the time spent watching TV series. Instead, their guilt arises from watching content that conflicts with their cultural, religious, and moral values."
Unveiling Guilty Pleasures
Ali Cha’aban, Creative Director of YKONE Agency: "Okay, so my guilty pleasure is watching Ben Shapiro analyses and ridicules ‘woke’ TikTok’s. When do I do it? Honestly, I think about it often, but I just don't have the time. The day I can really indulge is Saturday afternoon. I wake up, lazily head to the fridge for an ice-cold mango Jarritos, then plop back on the couch... and put the play button on YouTube. I can spend hours on it! Once, I watched from 2 pm until 6 pm."
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Cèline Azem, Curator and Director at Firetti Contemporary: "My most recent guilty pleasure is a lunch, a good friend, red lipstick on my lips and a beverage drink with espresso (you know what I mean!). I enjoy them when I get a day to de-stress from work. The perfect place for this is Couqley at Pullman Hotel. Another less graceful guilty pleasure is eating the meat off the bone of good t-bone steak like a true cavewoman!"
Nouri, Singer: "One of my guilty pleasures is watching a lot of cooking videos on Instagram reels and trying to recreate them. This always happens when I have a bunch of work to do, and I'm procrastinating. For me, it’s like a form of therapy, and I’m always trying to get better at it. So if you see me cooking, it's either because I really enjoy it or I have a lot of work that needs to get done. It's a good problem to have if you’re on the receiving end."
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Sofia Brontvein, Publisher of The Sandy Times: "My guilty pleasure is watching old movies and TV shows that I’ve seen countless times before, and eating ice cream. Ice cream is the only sweet treat I eat in because I’m constantly mindful of my weight and try to eat healthy. But sometimes, I just need to grab a spoon and a huge tub of chocolate or banana ice cream, something really sweet with a lot of calories, maybe with caramel topping. Then I switch on shows like Friends, Sex and the City, or The Office. I want to watch something light, easy, with good humour, and most importantly, something with a predictable ending because I've seen it before. It gives me a sense of control and comfort, knowing that everything will turn out fine — Ross and Rachel will end up together, Carrie will be happy even after Big dumps her for the fifth time, and the office will be fine."
Noor Taan, Artist: "Okay, my guilty pleasures are:
— ordering late-night sushi and watching my favourite Turkish drama show
— stay extra minutes in the sauna until I see black spots and am so close to fainting
— always clean my plate and finish everything on it, even if I'm already full
— sleeping in my dad's or brother's big favourite shirts that I keep
— shower with extremely hot water, even if it burns a little
— prioritising a night in with skincare and a mask on my face and one on my hair over a party night out with my friends definitely
And obviously, never throw anything! Even if it is not functional anymore, I am always so sure that I will and can use it to repurpose it or create an art piece with it. But is not a guilty pleasure, I suppose; it is life."
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Sana Bun, Fashion Contributor at The Sandy Times: "I have a few scenarios for enjoying my guilty pleasures. On a weekday evening, Martin (my boyfriend) and I order sweet Korean chicken from our favourite restaurant and sprawl out on the couch with the dog. The dog falls asleep, and we turn on 'Master Chef'. We pause the show about ten thousand times to discuss the dishes and the contestants' personalities, laugh, and get distracted by random topics unrelated to the show.
We head to Massimo Gelato (gelateria in Amsterdam), buy a litre of ice cream, tuck the dog into its bed, and watch dating reality shows. We gossip about the participants, conceptually discuss relationships, and everything else (shows like '90 Day Fiancé', 'The Ultimatum', 'Love Is Blind', 'Indian Matchmaker').
Also, I adore watching Clarkson’s farm. Initially, I wasn’t keen on it — farming didn't seem up my alley — but I got hooked. The script is sharp, with British humour and an amazing cast. I ended up learning more about livestock farming than I ever wanted to know.
Sometimes, in the middle of a weekday, I make a giant mug of coffee, lock myself in the bedroom away from Martin and the dog, and watch shows about pregnant teenagers on Zoom with my best friend (since now we live in different countries). We chat and gossip throughout, making it our little escape."
Shivani, Fashion Stylist: “My guilty pleasure is watching horror movies and getting so scared that I can't sleep. I also love watching sad movies just so I can cry to them.”
Jyotsna Sunil, Co-founder of Notanagency: “I think my guilty pleasure is watching true crime shows, especially psychological thrillers. Shows like Mindhunter, When They See Us, Inventing Anna, and Delhi Crime are my favourites. At the end of a long day, I love to relax and unwind with a hot cup of tea while watching these shows. I just enjoy how the detectives figure out who's killed and who's the thief. That's definitely my biggest guilty pleasure.”
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