How are you feeling today? Is your schedule filled with more tasks than you will have the time to finish? Are thoughts and worries nagging at you? If you have more on your plate than you can handle (and what woman doesn’t today?), you are probably experiencing stress in your life. Some stress is good, like the adrenaline rush you receive in an emergency that allows you to think and act quickly, but most stress is bad for your body as well as your beauty.

There are many unfortunate consequences of stress, and lots of them have to do with your outward appearance. For example, tension and anxiety can take its toll on your skin, leaving it dull, lifeless and prone to breakouts. Stress can even have a negative impact on your hair, because it can affect your scalp and hair follicles. Stress can result in dark circles under the eyes from lack of sleep. It can cause an expanding waistline when we try to combat the stressful moments with comfort food like chocolate or other refined sugar products. The bottom line? Stress doesn’t feel good and it doesn’t help us look good.

Here’s the good news. We can prevent, reduce or manage stress more effectively with a few tried and true techniques. And the really good news is that stress management won’t hurt a bit; in fact, most stress busting techniques are quite enjoyable. After all, who doesn’t like to spend an evening soaking in a tub of bubbles with a favorite CD and a glass of Chardonnay? Mm, stress management at its finest – let’s try it on for size, girls!

Stress-Busting Techniques

Here’s a pop quiz for you; what is the opposite of stress? Anyone? Most of us probably think about relaxation and rest as the anti-stress, and we are absolutely right. Start by getting your beauty sleep – eight hours a night is a good rule of thumb for most. If your tension is keeping you from a good amount of shut-eye, try going to bed at the same time every night, and follow a simple routine before hitting the sack that will help your body prepare for the slumber that is ahead.

Once you’ve had that restful night’s sleep, the next step in stress busting should be a daily exercise program. At least 30 minutes of aerobic activity most days of the week will keep your heart healthy, your skin looking its best and your stress to a minimum. You can even toss in two or three strength training sessions every week for additional tension taming. In addition to exercise, load up your diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and lots of whole grains. This may not be the type of fare that you crave in those challenging moments, but it will be the best choice to keep your spirits high and your body healthy.

Beyond the basics, you can look to techniques like massage, deep breathing and relaxation exercises that will help you to remain calm and centered during the tense times of life. Other good options include aromatherapy, spending time with activities you love and talking to friends. It may seem like there is not enough time in the day to indulge in these activities, but the time spent will make for stress-free days. Indulge, enjoy and relax. You are on the road to a more beautiful you.

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