There’s a fine line between feeling justified anger and letting it control your life.

This line often blurs through our daily habits that fuel the flames of this fiery emotion, often without us even realizing it.

Hi, I’m Lachlan Brown, the founder of Hack Spirit and a mindfulness enthusiast. I’m here to tell you that those seemingly harmless habits could be making you angrier in life.

This article is about recognizing these habits and understanding how they affect your mood.

It’s time to stop pouring gasoline on that fire and start living a more peaceful, composed life. So let’s dive into these 8 habits you probably don’t realize are making you an angrier person in life.

1) Holding onto grudges

We all have experienced situations where we feel wronged or misunderstood. It’s part of being human.

But here’s the kicker: constantly reliving these negative experiences, also known as holding onto grudges, is a sneaky habit that could be fueling your anger.

Each time you revisit those painful memories, you’re essentially re-living the same emotions all over again. Now, imagine doing this multiple times a day. That’s a lot of anger to carry around, isn’t it?

It’s crucial to understand that letting go of grudges doesn’t mean forgetting the incident or pardoning the person who wronged you. It simply means choosing not to let these past events control your present emotions.

As renowned psychologist Dr. Carl Jung once said, “I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.” And choosing to let go of grudges is the first step in becoming a less angry person.

2) Lack of sleep

I’ll be the first to admit it. There was a time when I thought sleep was overrated. I’d stay up late working on Hack Spirit, sacrificing hours of valuable sleep to get more done.

But here’s what I learned and what studies confirm: Lack of sleep and increased irritability go hand in hand.

When we’re sleep-deprived, our brain’s ability to process emotions effectively diminishes. This means we’re more likely to react impulsively and with heightened anger to situations that we’d normally brush off.

In my case, I noticed I would get easily frustrated over minor setbacks or small mistakes. My fuse was shorter, and my anger was often disproportionate to the situation.

Prioritizing sleep has become non-negotiable for me now. It not only keeps my temper in check but also improves my overall productivity and mental health.

So if you’ve been skimping on sleep lately, it might be time for you to hit the sack earlier too!

3) Poor nutrition

Just as lack of sleep can make us more irritable, poor nutrition can also contribute to our anger levels.

You might have noticed how you feel cranky or agitated when you’re hungry, a phenomenon often referred to as “hangry”. But it’s not just about eating regularly. What you eat also plays a vital role.

Diets high in sugar and processed foods can cause blood sugar levels to spike and crash, leading to mood swings, irritability, and even aggression.

On the other hand, a balanced diet rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean protein can help maintain stable blood sugar levels and thus better mood control.

So next time you’re feeling unusually angry, check in with your diet. Have you been eating healthy? Or have you been fueling your body (and your anger) with junk?

4) Living with a big ego

We all like to think we’re right. And yes, it’s great to have confidence in our beliefs and opinions.

But when this turns into an inflated ego, it can be a significant source of anger.

Why? Because having a big ego often means being less receptive to others’ opinions and more likely to feel attacked or misunderstood when someone disagrees with us. This defensiveness can quickly turn into anger.

In my book, Hidden Secrets of Buddhism: How To Live With Maximum Impact and Minimum Ego, I discuss how Buddhism teaches the importance of letting go of our ego.

Embracing humility and openness can lead to less frustration and anger in life.

Living with a smaller ego doesn’t mean diminishing your self-worth or confidence.

It simply means adopting a more open-minded approach, accepting that we don’t always have to be right, and appreciating the value in others’ perspectives.

Try it out. You might be surprised at how much this shift in attitude can help you keep your anger at bay!

5) Consuming negative media

You may not realize it, but what you consume significantly impacts your emotional state. And we’re not just talking about food here, but also the media you consume.

Studies show that constant exposure to negative news, violent movies or video games can subtly influence our mood and behavior. It can create a sense of threat and anxiety, which can lead to heightened anger.

In psychology, this is often referred to as “mean world syndrome“, where heavy media consumers are more likely to perceive the world as more dangerous than it actually is.

So what’s the solution? Try to balance your media diet with positive, uplifting content.

Limit the time you spend consuming negative news or violent shows. Instead, allocate more time to content that inspires, educates and uplifts you.

Remember, the media we consume shapes our perception of the world around us, so choose wisely!

6) Lack of physical activity

This one might surprise you, but hear me out.

Physical activity isn’t just about building muscles or losing weight. It’s also about mental health.

Regular exercise is known to release endorphins, the body’s natural mood lifters, which can help manage feelings of anger.

When we’re inactive for an extended period, our body tends to become tense and restless. This physical discomfort can subtly contribute to feelings of irritability and anger.

You don’t need to become a gym rat or run marathons. Even a brisk walk around the block or a quick yoga session can make a huge difference.

So next time you’re feeling unusually irritable, try moving your body. A quick jog or even some stretching might be all it takes to cool down those rising tempers.

7) Ignoring your feelings

It’s often easier to ignore our feelings or brush them under the rug, hoping they’ll fade away. But suppressing these feelings, especially anger, can be akin to putting a lid on a boiling pot.

When we don’t address our feelings, they tend to find a way of surfacing eventually, often in the form of an anger outburst.

It’s important to understand your feelings, identify what triggers them, and find healthy ways to express them. This could be through talking to someone you trust, journaling, or even seeking professional help.

Ignoring your feelings won’t make them disappear. It’s about acknowledging them and finding constructive ways to deal with them.

8) Overcommitting

There was a period when my calendar was so packed, I barely had time to breathe. Webinars, meetings, deadlines — it felt like I was constantly running from one thing to the next.

What I didn’t realize back then was how this constant state of busyness was contributing to my stress levels. And as we know, more stress often equals more anger.

Overcommitting and constantly being on the go can leave us feeling overwhelmed and on edge. It’s as if we’re always bracing for the next ’emergency’ or deadline.

The solution? Start by saying no more often. Prioritize what truly matters and let go of tasks or commitments that are not essential or don’t bring you joy.

It’s not just about doing less but about doing what truly matters to you. This shift can help reduce stress and, in turn, keep those angry outbursts at bay.

In conclusion: It’s about self-awareness

Recognizing these habits is the first step towards addressing the root causes of our anger.

It’s about understanding that our anger isn’t just an isolated reaction to specific incidents, but often a cumulative result of our lifestyle choices and habits.

In my book, Hidden Secrets of Buddhism: How To Live With Maximum Impact and Minimum Ego, I delve deeper into this idea of self-awareness and how it can help us lead a more balanced life.

So take a moment. Reflect on these habits and their role in your life. Are they making you angrier? If yes, what changes can you make?

Remember, it’s not just about eliminating anger, but understanding it, managing it, and using it as a tool for personal growth.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about living an anger-free life but a life of greater understanding, empathy, and inner peace.