Believe it or not, studies show that acute and chronic stress can not only have unwanted effects on your skin, it can exacerbate skin conditions like acne, hair loss and eczema. Unfortunately, your skin (and even your hair follicles) can produce stressful signals which can make their way back to your brain too!
We’ve all experienced these brain-skin responses. Think of times you’ve been extremely nervous and you started to sweat, or when you’ve gotten really embarrassed and your skin got flush. It’s important to reign in this stress not just for your skin, but for your overall well-being. This unwanted stress can really affect wellness long-term.
We’ve put together 5 simple solutions to help reduce your stress and keep your skin looking it’s best in 2023.
- Focus on the here and now. Stop worrying about the things you can’t fix and don’t obsess with how to fix the problems you can. Constant worrying can be debilitating and create tons of tension in your body. When we focus on the present, it is easier to clear our minds and focus on what’s important. Often solutions even present themselves when you give them the opportunity to. A guided meditation is a great way to do this. Even 5-10 minutes a day can help you get your mindset right.
- Move your body. Exercise is not only fantastic for your figure, it’s critical to staying healthy...mentally and physically. Hate exercise? Try out different sports or fitness classes until you find one that you really enjoy (or dislike the least) and stick with it. After a while you will get better and better at it and start to enjoy yourself even more. There are so many options out there now from VR classes and games to one of the hottest new sport trends, Pickleball. There is something out there for you! Me, I love tennis, and now feel like something’s missing if I can’t get out on the court a few times a week.
- Do a good deed. Just doing one small act of kindness everyday can greatly improve your ability to feel good about yourself. This is awesome for stress relief and positivity. Not to mention chicken soup for the soul.
- Don’t shout, write it out. Next time you are feeling stressed out, don’t yell and go crazy on someone, jot down your thoughts in a journal. This can be great for venting, but also expressing yourself and getting clarity on what it is you really want, how you really feel, and why you feel that way. Knowledge is power especially when you are trying to make positive change.
- Get your beauty sleep. When we are tired, we crave unhealthy foods, are more stressed and less able to function at our highest level. Cut out caffeine after a certain hour and consider giving up alcohol. Both of these can help you manage stress and anxiety. Eating healthier also has an effect on your ability to get meaningful sleep. Think you’ve tried everything? Try light therapy to help you fall asleep, listen to relaxing music (on a sleep timer) meditate before bed, nip negative thoughts in the bud, try some breathing exercises and of course, see your doctor if all else fails. This is so important to your overall health and well-being, you just can’t give up. It is well worth it to find a solution that works for you.
XOXO
Jaq
