Stress is a normal part of life, but prolonged exposure to stress can cause negative impacts on your mental and physical health. You may not realize it, but some of your habits could be causing you stress and harming your health.

Here are 10 habits that you need to identify and eliminate from your life:.

1. Procrastination

Procrastination can be a vicious cycle that leads to stress and anxiety. When you constantly put things off until the last minute, you are setting yourself up for stress and chaos.

The best way to avoid procrastination is to break down your tasks into smaller, manageable pieces, prioritize them, and start working on them right away.

2. Overthinking

Overthinking can cause you to stress yourself out unnecessarily. It’s good to analyze a situation, but when you start obsessing over it, it can lead to anxiety and panic attacks.

Learning to let go of things that you cannot control, and focusing on what you can control is the key here.

3. Poor Sleep Habits

Not getting enough sleep can have detrimental effects on your physical and mental health. It can lead to fatigue, lack of focus, and irritability.

Establishing a regular sleep schedule and sticking to it can help you get the sleep you need to function at your best.

4. Negative Self-Talk

Negative self-talk is when you constantly berate yourself with negative thoughts and criticisms. This can lead to a lack of self-care and a negative self-image.

To break this habit, try focusing on your strengths, identifying negative self-talk patterns, and challenging these thoughts with positive self-talk.

5. Poor Nutrition

You are what you eat, and if you consume a diet that is high in sugar, saturated fats, and processed foods, it can affect your energy levels, mood, and overall health.

A balanced diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains can provide you with the nutrients you need to stay healthy and alert.

6. Being Always ‘On’

In today’s technological age, it’s easy to feel like you need to be connected all the time.

The constant chatter of push notifications and alerts can lead to ‘information overload’ and cause stress as you feel like you need to be available at all times. Learning to set boundaries for yourself, such as turning off notifications outside work hours or designating a time each day to check emails can help you disconnect and decrease stress.

7. Lack of Exercise

Exercise has been shown to reduce stress, improve mood, and increase energy levels. When you make exercise a part of your routine, you are investing in your mental and physical health. Even just a quick walk around the block can make a difference.

8. Multitasking

Many of us believe that we can get more done by multitasking, but research has shown that it can actually decrease productivity and increase stress levels. By focusing on one task at a time, you can complete it more efficiently and with less stress.

9. People-Pleasing

While it’s good to be considerate of others, people-pleasing can lead to stress and anxiety. When you constantly prioritize others’ needs over your own, you can become overwhelmed and lose sight of your own priorities.

Setting boundaries and learning to say ‘no’ when you need to can help you avoid over-commitment.

10. Holding Grudges

Holding a grudge can be emotionally draining and can lead to negative emotional and physical health outcomes. Learning to forgive and let go of past hurts can help you reduce stress and move forward in a healthier, positive direction.