Many people around the world have problems with their skin that sometimes become worse without warning. Often they are left wondering “What could be the problem?”

Many times, the answer is stress.

Stress can be difficult to measure but one thing is for sure, it can be remedied.

Let’s take a look at why stress matters and how to limit your stress to look after your skin.

How does stress affect your skin?

According to Skin City, “stress causes inflammation in the skin which can lead to a weakened skin barrier, and worsen existing conditions such as psoriasis, acne, and atopic dermatitis.”

This is a strong enough reason for us to start paying closer attention to how mental health and stress affect the body.

So, now we know that stress matters, the next question is what can you do about stress in your life? Stress management is all about planning ahead, so keep reading to discover our ten tips for making your life more peaceful and your skin happier.

10 Tips For Reducing Stress

1 Schedule a regular massage spa session

 “Massage reduces tension and stress in the muscles, skin, and tissues while reducing the body’s overall production of cortisol.” – Impact Medical Group.

Book a massage every month or more often if you prefer and enjoy the opportunity to let go of all your concerns while an expert masseuse works her magic.

If you want to go with your partner, then book a couple’s massage and enjoy the experience of reducing stress together every month. Put the date in the calendar and don’t let anything get in the way!

2 Schedule a regular nature escape

“Spending time in green space or bringing nature into your everyday life can benefit both your mental and physical wellbeing.” – Mind.

A nature escape can mean whatever you wish. It can be a regular hiking trip with friends, a camping trip with family, or just a nice long walk in a national park.

It can be a great way to remind ourselves of the simplicity of life and remember that we are just like plants and animals – natural.

Newsflash: human beings are not robots. It sounds funny but it’s easy to forget!

Whether you go on an excursion alone, or with your loved ones, making time to reconnect with nature is good for the mind, body, and soul. Do it as often as you can. Put it in the calendar!

3 Become more self-reliant (Reduce caffeine, alcohol, sugar, nicotine, and sleeping pills)

“High amounts of caffeine can lead to the negative health effects associated with prolonged elevated levels of cortisol (as in chronic stress).” – Very Well Mind.

When we rely on stimulants too often, our bodies become dependent on them. Because dependency on artificial stimulation is unnatural, our biological systems can react unfavorably.

When we use too many substances like caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol regularly, we are confusing the body and disrupting its natural processes. The goal is to be as natural as possible. This is the key to maximizing your health.

A simple way to think about it is – when your body is less confused, you will experience fewer stressful moments and therefore greater peace!

This can be achieved with greater ease than you might think. Just remember to take it step by step, focus on progress not perfection, and don’t try to change everything in one day. Change is a journey.

4 Meditate more

“Your physical and emotional stress can melt away by learning to calm your body and mind. This leaves you feeling better, refreshed, and ready to face the challenges of your day with a healthy attitude.” – Very Well Mind.

 Meditation has grown in popularity in recent years and for a very good reason. Among other benefits, taking ten or twenty minutes to focus on relaxation can change the way you deal with stressful situations.

There are some stressors we cannot remove from our lives completely but meditation can help us to learn to respond more effectively in moments when we feel like our backs are against the wall. Meditation can help you to become less reactive and therefore calmer – regardless of what is going on in your personal environment.

5 Eat clean food

“A balanced diet can support a healthy immune system and the repair of damaged cells. It provides the extra energy needed to cope with stressful events.” – Harvard University.

The food we put into our bodies has a direct impact on how we look and feel. And if we eat unhealthy food too often, there is an increased chance that we will experience more negative emotions.

Conversely, if you give your body all of the nutrients it needs, your biological system encounters less chaos. And when your body is settled, your mind will also be more settled, which means you will be better equipped to deal with difficult conversations, situations, or emotions.

6 Make time for the people you love

“Those with strong family healthy relationships tend to seek out healthier coping mechanisms for stress—such as confiding in friends and family—instead of other unhealthy outlets. This establishes a habit of talking through problems together to relieve stress and find effective solutions.” – Highland Springs.

One of the biggest reasons we become stressed is because we feel we don’t have enough time. The challenge is to learn about how to ‘make’ time for the things that matter to us the most.

Spending time with family and friends is an important experience to have regularly because most conflicts happen when we are rushing through life. Dedicating some peaceful time with your favorite people is all about giving your attention to other people, and receiving their attention as well.

7 Stop saying yes to every request or every opportunity

“Always saying yes isn’t healthy. When you’re overcommitted and under too much stress, you’re more likely to feel run-down and possibly get sick.” – Self.

Saying no is not as rude as it sounds. It is a necessary part of being organized and learning to lead a balanced life. Selfishness is obviously a negative trait but reserving time and space in your life is not selfish. It’s responsible.

For example, sometimes we need to say “no” to something related to work so that we can say “yes” to something related to our family.

When we get organized and plan time for the important things in our lives in advance, it becomes easier to know what we can say “yes” or “no” to without taking any risks.

8 Communicate more effectively with the people in your life about stress

“You don’t have to open up to everyone about your stress if it makes you uncomfortable; you just need to be able to speak honestly with one person, at least to start.” –FitBit

Many of us who experience stress make the mistake of keeping the problem quiet and suffering in silence. Unfortunately, this can lead to further problems. If you are feeling stressed and you keep the problem to yourself, you are denying yourself the opportunity to get a fresh perspective on the situation or even better.

As we mentioned, not all stress triggers can be avoided but sometimes just talking can transform a situation from stressful to peaceful. If you don’t talk with people, how will they know that something is wrong?

If talking directly to people related to the stressful situation is not possible, then just talking with a friend can help you to better interpret your own emotions and rise above the challenge.

9 Reduce screen use

“The lights and stimuli from screens stress our anatomy, and screen time causes repeated stress on the Central Nervous System. As a result, we can become angry, impulsive, isolated, aggressive, and less empathetic.” –D’Amore Mental Health.

We live in a time of screen addiction. It is normal to check our phones every few minutes. But just because the whole world is doing something, it doesn’t mean you need to follow.

The smartphone is a personal device that comes with us everywhere every day and this attachment can be unhealthy for many reasons. This includes separation from human contact and overly comparing ourselves to others. Both of those can result in increased stress.

The best tip here is to avoid using all devices a few hours before bedtime. The late evening is the time to remember you are a human being – we are not supposed to be so connected to technology 24/7. Remember to make time to ‘disconnect’. Get away from all the alerts and updates and just relax.

10 Prioritize sleep & Make an evening routine

“A lack of sleep can cause the body to react as if it’s in distress, releasing more of the stress hormone, cortisol. Cortisol is responsible for your fight or flight reaction to danger, increasing your heart rate in anticipation of a fight. Too much cortisol, however, can lead to weight gain and cardiovascular issues over time.” –Banner Health

The main focus of having an evening routine is to maximize the quality of your sleep.

If your sleep quality is poor, then your skin will suffer and you are much more likely to become stressed.

Embrace the idea of preparing yourself for the perfect sleep. Every evening, learn to switch off your busy mind and just relax.

We understand that depending on your living circumstances, sticking to an evening routine could be a challenge.

If you live with other people such as your family or friends, communication may be an essential part of making it work. If you live by yourself, the challenge could be self-discipline. Either way, avoid the kinds of activities that could make you stressed and plan a personal ritual. It could include listening to calm music, drinking Camomile tea, or reading a book.

The choice is yours but keep it low energy. Avoid social media, aggressive movies, aggressive music, caffeine, etc.

And sleep well!

Which is your favorite of these stress management tips? We would love to know! Do you have any of your own ideas to add? Comment below.