Spend more time deep breathing

“One of the best ways to deal with chronic stress is to regulate your stress response with breathing exercises and learn to activate your parasympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system is your healing and recovery state which, when dealing with chronic stress, needs more TLC. Deep diaphragmatic breathing exercises like box breathing or alternate nostril breathing can be helpful for this.

Try:

Breathing in for four seconds.
Holding that breath for four seconds.
Breathing out for four seconds.
Holding at the bottom for four seconds.
Repeat four times.”

Dr Mohammed Enayat, founder of HUM2N

Double cleanse your skin

“Stress causes the body to make excessive amounts of cortisol, which tells glands in your skin to make more oil. If you feel like your skin is producing more oil and a breakout is imminent, make sure that you’re cleansing your skin thoroughly morning and night to get rid of any dirt and debris. Choose an option with salicylic acid, glycolic acid or benzoyl peroxide, which all help to break down the bonds between dead skin cells, eliminating them from the surface of your skin. Then follow up with a gentle, oil-free moisturizer.”

Dr Ross Perry, medical director of Cosmedics skin clinics

11 medical professionals share their best piece of advice for dealing with chronic stress