You may have thought that the public presentation you have to do next week or the uncertainty about whether your kid is getting on well with their new classmates were the things that made you feel anxious. But the real reasons might, in fact, be our innocent daily habits. Here are a few surprising things that can negatively affect your stress levels every day.
Sitting all the time
According to 2015 research published in BMC Public Health, sedentary behaviour increases anxiety. So, if you can’t wait to get home and spend the rest of the day on your couch, watching Netflix, consider a quick workout at lunchtime first.
Not having enough greenery around
Be it a 30-minute walk in a park after work, a bit of gardening over the weekend or just watering the plants in your home every other day, psychologists agree that humans need greenery in their life. Did you know there is such a thing as ‘horticultural therapy’ where, through potting plants and arranging flowers, patients improve their mood and stress-related illnesses?
Not sleeping enough
Lack of quality sleep makes us feel irritated, distracted and tired. All that affects our self-esteem and increases the fear of failure. If you’ve been sleeping less than 7-8 hours per day recently, try implementing some of these amazing 9 tips to make you sleep well.
Not getting enough light
The trap we all fall into in winter. We wake up when it’s still dark, spend the day under artificial office lights and ‘relax’ in a dark bar on Fridays. Researchers at Brown University have proved that some of the light-sensory cells in our eyes are directly connected to the area of the brain that’s responsible for our moods. If we don’t give those cells enough light, the brain doesn’t send us enough positivity and energy – it’s as easy as that! Moreover, natural light boosts serotonin which is associated with the feeling of happiness.
Not drinking enough water
Dehydration affects processes in our brains, leading to worsening moods. Anywhere under eight cups of water per day puts you at risk!
Messy house
A cluttered home causes our bodies to generate more cortisol, also known as the stress hormone. Psychologists say that we view messy homes as an unfinished job and that makes us feel unsettled and not worthy of relaxation. Luckily for us, Marie Kondo has some great advice on how to clean your house, and if you’re really in the mood today, here are 14 more awesome cleaning tips.
Too much junk food
Spikes and drops in sugar levels, artificial flavours and colours and the lack of an eating regime are no good for your health. Eating natural, nutrient-dense food, at approximately the same time every day, helps to reduce anxiety and puts your body in a comforting, relaxed and well-balanced state. Here are some more ways to detoxify your body.
Social media addiction
OK, that one is kinda obvious, we guess. Social media makes us compare ourselves to the ‘perfect people with incredible achievements’ that we see online, causing anxiety and even depression. That’s why we’re so excited about the upcoming 2019 Instagram updates that should make this platform more mentally health-friendly.