As we’ve talked about before, stress is no good for your skin, both in the short term and the long term. It’s easier said than done to de-stress when we’re all busy people with many hats to wear. Because of that, we put together a list of tips and tricks to help you relax, both for your health and for your skin’s benefit:

1) Take a break:

One of the most important things you can do when feeling stressed is take a break. Go for a walk, read a magazine, just step away from whatever you’re doing, even for 5-10 minutes. Simply looking out the window can help – studies have shown that looking out a window into nature will put you in a better mood than looking at a screen or wall.

2) Breathe:

When we get stressed, we tend to take short shallow breaths. This is one of the worst things you can do to relax yourself. Deeper, longer breaths activate your parasympathetic nervous system, which works to calm you down. The extra boost of oxygen will do you wonders, so breathe in for a few seconds, hold it and release for a few seconds.

3) Eat a balanced diet:

The food we put into our body has a big effect on how we feel. Well balanced diets can contribute to overall health and wellness, which can take a lot off your mind- but don’t be afraid to indulge just a little. Studies have shown that a healthy amount of carbohydrates, like simple sugars, can help relax you.

4) Treat your allergies:

It turns out that allergies don’t just make inflammations flare and your nose run – they stress you out on a biological level as well. Research has demonstrated that the chemicals released into our blood when having an allergic reaction can also impact mood changes. If you notice yourself getting especially anxious when the seasons change, consider if allergies might be playing a role.

5) Try something new:

When we have the chance to overthink something without actually being able to act on it, we draw ourselves further into the problem. One of the best ways to combat this is to try something new that will make you focus on something outside the problem. So turn off the TV and pick up a new project to keep yourself out of your own head.

6) Play a classic:

There are mountains of research that shows the effects of music on your mind. Classical music stands out as a great tool to calm you down – it slows heart rate, lowers blood pressure and even decreases levels of stress hormones. If you’re not a fan of classical, play whatever you love. It’ll release endorphins that will help put you in a better mood.