Think you're being super efficient by tackling four tasks at once? Chances are you're not -- and it's only decreasing your productivity while increasing your stress.
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Reacting to stress —
Even reacting to stress by eating junk food or skipping your workouts can actually make your stress worse.
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Your significant other —
Even if you have a blissfully happy relationship with your live-in partner or spouse, you're both bound to do things that get on each other's nerves.
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Everyday annoyances —
We're told not to sweat the small stuff, but sometimes it's the little things that have the biggest impact on our mood, like the 20 minutes you lose looking for a parking space.
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Other people's stress —
Stress can be contagious. You can also experience stress when someone you know is affected by a traumatic event, like a car crash or a chronic illness.
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Social media —
Learning about stressful situations in your friends' lives through social media can add to your worries, but frequent social media use in general can be associated with negative body image and prolonged breakup pain.
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Distractions —
When you're so busy thinking about something else that you can't enjoy what's going on around you, that kind of distraction can be a recipe for stress.
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Tea & chocolate —
You may not think as much about drinking several cups of tea at once, or chowing down on a bar of dark chocolate—both of which can contain nearly as much caffeine as a cup of coffee, which is going to make stress even worse.
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Expectations —
If things don't go the way you expect and you get upset, rather than rolling with the punches, your stress could create a pessimistic mindset.
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Watching your favorite sport —
Watching sports can trigger the body's sympathetic nervous system, releasing adrenaline and reducing blood flow to the heart. Your body can't determine between "good" or "bad" stress.
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Digital devices —
Spending too much time virtually socializing can make real-life interactions seem extra stressful.
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Your health —
Even people who are in good shape worry about their bodies, diets and fitness levels.
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Housework —
If too many of the household chores are falling on your shoulders, that's just more stress on the pile.
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Uncertainty —
Stress can be defined as any perceived or actual threat, says Yeager, so any type of doubt that's looming over you can contribute to your anxiety levels on a daily basis.
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Your pet —
No matter how much you love your furry friends, there's no question that they add extra responsibility to your already full plate.