It’s important to remember to stop and breathe occasionally despite time constraints.

A busy schedule keeps you on your toes. It can contribute to your stress levels, however, if not managed. Lucky for you, self-care tips exist to treat your mind, body, and soul well. Engaging in a few activities that are specifically designed for you and your well-being is the key to successfully managing your time better. When you feel less pressure, you’re more relaxed and able to prioritize the most important tasks needing to be completed throughout the week.

Here are five ways to slow down time when your schedule is maddening:

Focus on your breath.

How you breathe affects the relaxation response. Deep breathing lowers your heart rate and blood pressure. Shallow breathing affects your nervous system in a taxing way. Put on a Lavender Aromatherapy Inhalation Patch, and feel your tension melt away with each deep breath you take.

Take notice of the small things that give you pleasure.

It’s easy to be on autopilot at all times. You probably do many things without giving them much thought. If you want to slow down life, start paying attention to the things around you as you’re doing them. Be mindful of your surroundings and take pleasure in the little things.

Turn off the notifications on your phone.

This simple tip isn’t for the fainthearted. If you’re used to being connected to your phone at all times, you’ll find it challenging. Once you’ve turned off the alerts and realized that you’re not missing anything, your life will change for the better. You may even find that you’re going longer periods of time without checking your phone. That is, of course, as long as your profession doesn’t depend on an immediate response from you wherever you go.

Stretch.

Take regular breaks to stretch your body. That way, your muscles don’t feel sore and tight once you’re at home. You’ll give yourself a few seconds to clear your head before moving on to the next task. It’s precisely what you need to feel more relaxed.

Spend time with your inner circle.

If at all possible, find ways to include your family and friends into your schedule as much as possible. If you need to hit the gym after work, request that your bestie join you. You’ll find that they’ll be just as excited to catch up with you as you are with them.

Each of the suggestions listed above are a form of self-care that helps you relax. Deep breathing and stretching benefit the body and the mind. Removing distractions, zoning in on the beauty that surrounds you, and spending time with the people you cherish most are also ways to treat yourself well after a long work day or taxing week of meetings, appointments or classes.