Top 7 Everyday Stress Triggers You Might Be Overlooking
Stress Isn’t Just Big Events — It’s in the Everyday
When we think of stress, we picture deadlines, arguments, or major life changes. But the truth is, most of our stress comes from everyday triggers we don’t even notice. These “hidden stressors” keep your body in fight-or-flight mode all day long — spiking cortisol, draining energy, and making it harder to focus or lose weight.
Here are 7 sneaky causes of daily stress you might be overlooking (and how to get back in balance).
1. Caffeine Overload
That morning latte or afternoon pick-me-up might feel like fuel, but caffeine spikes cortisol and keeps you wired long after you’ve finished drinking it.
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High doses increase anxiety and disrupt sleep.
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Women metabolise caffeine slower during perimenopause, making the effects stronger.
Swap tip: Try cutting caffeine after 12pm, or replace your second coffee with our Morning Blend — Lion’s Mane + Cordyceps + Chaga give you clean energy without the jitters.
2. Too Much Screen Time
Endless emails, scrolling, and Netflix binges don’t just strain your eyes — they stress your nervous system.
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Blue light suppresses melatonin, wrecking your sleep.
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Social media triggers comparison, raising cortisol and anxiety.
Swap tip: Use blue light filters after 7pm, and give yourself at least 30 minutes tech-free before bed.
3. Poor Sleep (or Inconsistent Sleep)
Sleep and stress are a vicious cycle: poor sleep raises cortisol, and high cortisol prevents sleep.
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Just one night of 5 hours sleep can raise cortisol by the next day.
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Chronic sleep deprivation is linked to weight gain, mood swings, and brain fog.
Swap tip: Build a wind-down ritual — herbal tea, breathwork, or our Evening Blend with Reishi, Turkey Tail, and Shiitake for deep rest.
4. Blood Sugar Spikes & Skips
Skipping meals or eating high-sugar snacks leads to blood sugar crashes — which your body sees as stress. Cortisol is released to push glucose back into your system.
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Leads to cravings, mood swings, and “hanger.”
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Increases fat storage, especially around the belly.
Swap tip: Pair carbs with protein and fibre, and avoid going longer than 4–5 hours without food.
5. Gut Imbalance
Your gut and brain are connected by the gut-brain axis. Stress harms the gut microbiome, and poor gut health triggers more stress signals back to the brain.
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90% of serotonin (your “happy” neurotransmitter) is made in the gut.
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Stress can cause IBS, bloating, and food intolerances.
Swap tip: Eat more fibre, fermented foods, and add gut-friendly mushrooms like Turkey Tail (found in our Evening Blend).
6. Multitasking & Always Being “On”
Constantly switching between tasks might feel productive, but it exhausts your brain.
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Multitasking raises cortisol and lowers focus.
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Studies show task-switching can reduce productivity by up to 40%.
Swap tip: Batch your tasks. Try 50 minutes focused work + 10 minutes movement/breathing. Support concentration with Lion’s Mane in our Mind & Mood blend.
7. Environmental Stressors
Noise, clutter, traffic, even fluorescent lighting can stress your nervous system without you realising.
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Your brain interprets constant low-level irritation as “danger.”
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This keeps cortisol slightly elevated all day.
Swap tip: Declutter your workspace, open windows for fresh air, and use noise-cancelling headphones if needed.
Final Word
Stress isn’t always dramatic. It sneaks in through caffeine, poor sleep, constant screens, and even your gut health. The key is awareness — once you spot the triggers, you can take small steps to reset.
Functional mushrooms like Reishi, Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps, and Turkey Tail support your body’s stress pathways naturally — calming the nervous system, balancing cortisol, and boosting resilience.
Explore our full range of blends and take the first step towards stress balance that lasts all day — morning, noon, and night.