Stress is a fact of life for all of us. We have to deal with it at some point and, indeed, it can be a healthy reaction to stressful situations. However, if you carry stress with you throughout the day, it can begin to have negative effects on your health. You might not be to blame for your stress, but did you know that your habits and lifestyle could be making things more difficult for you? Here are a few of the common habits that impact stress levels, and how you can manage them.
Using screens late at night
Sleeplessness is a major cause of stress, but you might not even be aware that you are reducing your sleep quality if you do this one very common habit. Laptops, smartphones, and other digital screens are so ubiquitous that we might not even think twice about using them right before bed, but the blue light they produce is known to make the brain much more active at night, which can, in turn, make it take longer for you to fall asleep. Products like
Warby Parker’s blue light glasses can help you diminish this effect, to some degree, but it’s usually better to spend roughly 30-45 minutes without any screen time before bed to ensure you’re falling asleep when you’re supposed to.
Smoking
A lot of people seem to make the assumption that smoking helps them deal with stress. In reality, this is a trick that cigarettes play on you. It’s true that satisfying your nicotine cravings can lead to a feeling of relief, and you might feel immediately less stressed during and shortly after smoking, but the stress that you’re relieving was caused by your addiction to nicotine, itself. Nicotine replacement products like vapes from
IndeJuice's online vape shop are helping a lot of people quit smoking and you can reduce your nicotine levels over time, too, which can help you more successfully quit in the long term. Any addiction is a significant source of stress, not to mention a plethora of other health problems you don’t need.
Not moving around enough
Exercise might seem like one of those things that’s recommended when it comes to just about any health issue, but it really is that important, and this includes helping you deal with stress.
Getting into routine exercise isn't just about staying fit; it's a significant stress-buster too. When you move your body, you release endorphins, those feel-good hormones that can help you relieve tension. Plus, regular exercise helps regulate cortisol, the stress hormone. Without it, cortisol can hang around longer, making you feel more on edge. What’s more, a lack of exercise can lead to issues such as weight gain and inflammation issues which can cause back pain, which in turn can be a major source of sleeplessness and, therefore, stress.
Being more mindful about how your habits impact your stress levels can help you make more mindful decisions. Of course, that alone might not quell your stress, but it can make it much more manageable.
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