6 Hidden Stressors That Could Be Affecting Your Health & Mood

There are tons of big things in life that cause stress — work, family, money — but even the smaller, less noticeable stressors can have an impact. Left untreated, these little issues can feel like a heavy weight upon your shoulders and make other conflicts seem worse than they may actually be. To help you identify hidden stressors we’ve created this list of everyday activities that could be negatively impacting your health and mood.

1. Not falling asleep at a normal hour.

We already know we’re not our best when we don’t get enough sleep but even going to bed at a later time can cause stress. Whether you have difficulty dozing off or put off getting into bed all together, night owl behavior could be leading to tension and even sad thoughts. Try going to bed at an earlier hour by prepping for sleep two hours before. That means no eating and avoiding stimulating activity like playing on your computer or smartphone.

2. Your afternoon coffee.

Getting hit with an afternoon slump is not uncommon and many of us turn to coffee after lunch. But this seemingly harmless pick-me-up could cause anxiety and increased adrenaline, leading to difficulty sleeping and even high blood pressure. The recommended caffeine limit is 300 milligrams or four small cups of coffee per day. If you’re the type that has two servings in the morning or orders a medium size from your barista (the equivalent to two cups), you may be hitting that quota faster than you think. To cut back on caffeine try reaching for a glass of water first (you may just be dehydrated, not tired) or grabbing a healthy snack to boost energy.

3. Happy hour.

Pouring yourself a glass of wine after a long day or hitting happy hour with coworkers may seem innocent enough but cocktail hour could actually be the cause of your stress. Drinking alcohol is linked to increased cortisol and restless sleep. To avoid these risks, ladies should limit themselves to one drink per day while men shouldn’t exceed two.

4. Apps.

Being plugged in to your phone 24/7 may ease your FOMO but it could also contribute to stress and anxiety. When we’re playing games, checking email, and scrolling through Facebook all day we’re faced with a constant urgency to respond and participate, not allowing ourselves space to breathe. Instead of reaching for your phone every time you receive a notification, limit yourself to checking your phone once an hour.

5. Tracking your diet.

Working out and eating better is great — until we become obsessive about it. Monitoring exercise and constantly counting calories can link positive improvements to feelings of anxiety and stress. If you like tracking your day, try a tool like Fitbit, which does most of the work for you. If dieting is still stressing you out, stop thinking of eating healthy as a goal and make it part of your lifestyle. When good choices become the obvious option, the pressure of staying within a certain calorie limit fades away.

6. Over exercising.

Too much of a good thing? It does exist, and it applies even to exercising. While moderate physical fitness is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, overdoing it can actually cause harm. How much is too much? If you’re pushing yourself past feelings of fatigue, it might be time to evaluate the intensity or length of your workouts. Experts also recommend taking “rest days” to allow your body to recover and reboot.