I may not have posed my question clearly. You say: "Nearly every task either adds ... to my stress or relieves it." My question is: why does this seems to be

I may not have posed my question clearly. You say: "Nearly every task either adds ... to my stress or relieves it." My question is: why does this seems to be true for everyone? The answer is not necessarily related to energy or time expenditure. For me, playing consecutive games of intense full-court basketball is fun/relaxing/play.