When you think of stress, you probably picture the big stuff: deadlines, money worries, relationship drama, sleepless nights.
But here’s the thing: it’s often the sneaky little triggers that keep your stress hormones bubbling away in the background. The ones you don’t even realise are spiking your cortisol until you’re suddenly wondering why you feel wired, frazzled, or one email away from a menty b.
Let’s break down 7 everyday culprits – and what you can actually do about them.
1. Dehydration
Even mild dehydration is a stress signal to your body. When you’re low on water, your system thinks resources are scarce, and cortisol levels creep up.
Try this: if you’re like me (i.e. secretly a child who needs to flavour her water in order to drink it), try adding electrolytes to incentivise you!
2. Snoozing Your Alarm
You know that feeling when you wake up to your alarm blaring? A mix of panic and confusion followed by a mad scramble to grab your phone and turn the bloody thing off!? Well, that’s your first stress spike. Spare your nervous system the second one, 5 minutes later.
Try this: set your alarm for the latest possible time you actually need to wake up, and commit to getting up then (future you will thank you).
3. Skipping Meals
Your blood sugar is basically your nervous system’s fuel tank. When you skip meals, your body interprets it as a shortage, flipping on the stress response.
Try this: even if you can’t face a big meal, have a quick snack with protein and fat, like nut butter on toast or yogurt with fruit. (FYI this is a completely foreign topic for me: I’m ready to eat anywhere, anytime).
4. WhatsApp Groups
Bless them, but group chats are basically cortisol delivery systems disguised as “community.” Endless pings and notifications = constant micro-stressors.
Try this: mute groups that don’t actually add value to your day, and check them when you choose.
5. Noise Pollution
Mexico City girlies get it – the cacophony of traffic, sirens, the bin man’s cow bell (you read that correctly), and the tamales oaxaqueños is no joke. Constant noise keeps your nervous system in a low-level alert state.
Try this: noise-cancelling headphones, white noise apps, or even a good playlist can make a huge difference.
6. A Fixed Gaze
Staring at your laptop, phone, or baby monitor without moving your eyes tricks your brain into thinking you’re in danger (i.e. in nature maintaining a fixed stare like that means you’d be either hunting or being hunted).
Try this: soften your gaze or look up every so often to take in the wider environment. It’s called “orienting,” and it tells your nervous system you’re safe.
7. Inconsistent Sleep-Wake Times
Your circadian rhythm is like a toddler: it thrives on routine. Constantly shifting your sleep schedule keeps your nervous system guessing – and stressed. Not to mention, sleep experts cite this as the single most important piece of sleep hygiene.
Try this: I’m a literal monster for saying this, but aim to wake up and go to bed at roughly the same time – even on weekends.
In summary: we can’t eliminate every cortisol trigger. Life is messy, unpredictable, and sometimes just loud.
What really matters is having tools to help your nervous system reset when stress sneaks in. That’s where somatic practices come in – quick, body-based tools you can use anywhere to shift out of stress mode and back into calm.
Want to try one? Here’s something I prepared earlier – give ‘er a go!
Stress isn’t going anywhere – but how you move through it? That’s where your power is.
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