5 Sneaky Habits That Are Secretly Fuelling Your Anxiety
- Jessica Adams
- May 6
- 2 min read
You’re meditating. You’re journaling. You’re doing the mindset work... so why do you still feel anxious?
The truth is: anxiety doesn’t just come from what you don’t do — it’s often made worse by things you’re doing every day without realising.
Here are five sneaky habits that might be fuelling your anxiety.
1. Scrolling First Thing in the Morning
Opening your phone before your feet hit the ground floods your brain with cortisol and comparison. It hijacks your nervous system before you’ve even had a chance to check in with you.
Instead: Try 5 minutes of quiet, journaling, or grounding before touching your phone.
2. Over-scheduling Yourself
Being busy isn’t always productive. When your day is crammed edge-to-edge, your body never gets a signal that it’s safe to relax.
Try this: Build 5–10 minute “buffer breaks” between tasks to reset.
3. Overthinking Every Interaction
Replaying conversations in your head or obsessing over what someone meant keeps your brain in a constant loop of hypervigilance.
Try this CBT check-in:
What am I assuming here?
What would I say to a friend in this situation?
4. Caffeine on an Empty Stomach
That flat white first thing might feel necessary, but it spikes cortisol and can mimic the physical symptoms of anxiety (shakiness, rapid heartbeat, irritability).
Try this: Eat a protein-rich breakfast before your caffeine fix.
5. Saying Yes When You Mean No
People-pleasing feels safe — but self-abandonment always backfires. Constantly putting others’ needs ahead of your own tells your brain you’re not safe to honour your boundaries.
Instead: Practise saying “I’ll get back to you” as a first step.
Small Shifts. Big Impact.
You don’t have to overhaul your life — just start noticing where your habits are keeping your anxiety activated.
🌿 Inside my 3 month £25 per month (or £75 one off) coaching membership, I guide you through small daily mindset, nervous system, and confidence shifts that transform your mental health.
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