These days, it’s hard to avoid stress. Between work, family and our overall busy lives, we’re all being pulled in a million directions. Stress has also been linked to all the leading causes of death, including heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis, and suicide, according to the American Institute of Stress.
Want to know some ways to reduce the effects of stress on your skin? If you weren’t already aware, stress does a number on various areas of our bodies but it can easily show up on our skin. Some of the effects of stress on our skin can’t be undone, so it’s important to try and get things under control when we can. Here are some simple steps we can easily take to reduce stress:
- Quite simply, exercising makes you look better and feel better. Consider it an integral part of your day, like brushing your teeth or eating dinner. “If you make it a way of life, it becomes part of your life, not just something you have to make time for,” says Walker.
- When blood flow is decreased, toxins begin to build up in the skin as well. These toxins can contribute to a lackluster complexion, and many doctors and scientists believe toxins also play a role in cellulite development, which causes loose, dimpled skin.
- Another way to relieve stressed skin and a stressed mind is to work out. Grab a jump rope, dumbbells or go for a run and work off all that negative energy.
- Take hot baths regularly: after a very busy day or when we feel that we need to relax (I do this three times a week). You can take a hot bath by sitting in warm to hot water and the water level should be above the waist, using lavender oil can also enhance this relaxing experience.
- Before you slather a bunch of anti-aging skin products on your face, you have to take care of your body from the inside, starting with getting 7-8 hours of sleep every night, eating plenty of omega-3 fatty acids, fruits, and veggies, and drinking a ton of water to keep hydrated.
- Relaxation: It sounds obvious, but people who lead stressful lives have to make a concerted effort to slow down and relax. Deep breathing, meditating, and other forms of “quiet time” will help.
Let’s make stress reduction a priority. Whip out the calendar and begin scheduling time to de-stress if that’s what it takes. Sharing is caring- what are your favorite stress-reducing activities?