7 Surprising Habits That Increase Stress Levels

Are you someone who starts the day with a cup of coffee or immediately checks your phone upon waking? These seemingly harmless habits could be elevating your stress levels without you even realizing it.

Despite maintaining a healthy lifestyle—eating well and exercising—you might still feel fatigued or anxious. It’s important to recognize that certain wellness routines can inadvertently increase your stress, particularly if your hormone levels are unbalanced.

Tanisha Bawa, an expert in gut and hormone health, recently shared seven everyday practices that can backfire and elevate cortisol, leading to increased stress. Here’s a look at these habits:

1. Cold Exposure

While cold plunges are often seen as beneficial, they can spike cortisol and epinephrine levels if your baseline stress is already high. This can add unnecessary strain to your body.

2. Caffeine on an Empty Stomach

Drinking coffee first thing in the morning can raise cortisol levels by 30 to 50 percent. When combined with insufficient sleep or emotional stress, this can exacerbate anxiety and energy crashes.

3. Over-tracking Sleep

Constantly monitoring your sleep with apps can lead to anxiety and unnecessary stress, as your body may react negatively to perceived inadequate recovery.

4. Intermittent Fasting

Skipping meals can trigger stress signals in the brain, raising cortisol levels and negatively impacting your metabolic health.

5. Morning Screen Time

Checking your phone as soon as you wake up can flood your brain with dopamine, leading to increased cortisol levels before your day even starts.

6. Daily High-Intensity Workouts

While exercise is essential for health, overdoing high-intensity workouts without adequate recovery can lead to fatigue and hormonal imbalances.

7. Late-Night Eating

Consuming meals close to bedtime disrupts your circadian rhythm, preventing cortisol from naturally decreasing overnight and leaving you feeling wired the next morning.

Recognizing these habits is the first step toward reducing stress and promoting better hormonal balance. Consider adjusting your routines to foster a healthier relationship with your body and mind.