Everybody has weird thoughts and habits, but how do we know what's normal? A new video from New Scientist's Explanimator aimed to find out.

One of the most common "mental quirks" we hear about is mind-wandering, also known as spacing out. Some data show we spend 50 percent of our waking time doing this, which seems bad considering the tasks we’re given on any given day — school papers, work assignments, and so on. While some people concentrate harder to activate the part of the brain associated with self-control, others succeed with more creative solutions. Letting your mind wander can help with problems that don’t have a clear solution.

"Having a wandering mind doesn’t mean you’ve lost it," Explanimator host MacGregor Campbell said.

Nonsensical rituals and obsessions are also a mental quirk that's not so bad. Campbell uses the example of the ritual toddlers have growing up, like counting the steps on the stairs. Some psychologists believe this is a way for toddlers to make sense of a world they have very little control over. And the same can be said for adults, especially since the stress of navigating this world doesn’t necessarily go away.

"Rituals and obsessions can be a healthy way to just deal," Campbell said.

Of course, if mind-wandering, rituals, or obsessions begin to interrupt your daily life, then it could be a problem. Otherwise when it comes to the brain, Campbell said, there's no such thing as normal.