Stress is unavoidable. Everyone experiences it. And combating the impact of it on the skin is what many of your clients are looking for!

But what about you? Days of seeing back to back clients can take its toll, which is why you need to develop some coping mechanisms for dealing with the stress in your life.

Here are three simple ways you can deal with stress as an esthetician.

Practice Deep Breathing

One of the best techniques you can use to help combat stress is also one of the easiest: breathing. Deep breathing has been used as a way to help fight stress and relax for decades. It’s easy to learn, doesn’t take a lot of time, and can literally be done anywhere.

You don’t need any fancy meditation music or space to practice deep breathing. Simply take a few minutes to focus on your breaths.

Sit down in a chair with good posture – head up, back straight, and shoulders back but relaxed. Close your eyes and then slowly inhale through your nose to the count of five and then exhale out your mouth to the count of five. Continue this for as long as you need to feel centered, relaxed, and calm.

Be Present

You know the old adage “stop and smell the roses”? Well, you should do just that!

Living in the moment is about mindfulness, allowing you to appreciate the things right in front of you instead of worrying about struggles going on outside of this moment and place.

Being present also allows you to remove distractions and focus on what you’re doing. When you’re doing something, think about what distracts you and then work to avoid those things. Be aware of what you’re doing and cling to the idea of right now as you bear witness to each moment.

Life moves quickly, but if you can work on being present then you may be able to enjoy it just a little bit more — and enjoy your career too!

Move Your Body

Being an esthetician is great, but it’s not a career that involves a lot of exercise. That’s why you should make time each day to move your body. Exercise can help to improve your mental health by reducing anxiety and depression.

You may be imagining that you need to recreate your favorite movie exercise montage to see these benefits, but that’s not the case at all. Simply going for a 10-minute walk can make a difference in your overall health and wellness. You can also work in various ways to get more movement into your day by changing your habits.

Some examples include:

• Take the stairs instead of the elevator
• Park in the farthest parking spot from the door
• Walk to talk to a coworker instead of emailing, texting, or calling them

You may love what you do for a living, but that doesn’t mean you can avoid stress completely. That’s why it’s critical for you to find healthy ways to cope with it. That way, you’ll not only feel better but be better for your clients.