It's been a busy few months that included moving from San Francisco to Austin, discovering I'm pregnant and deciding to pursue my dream of building a company.
It's good things come in threes. I don't think this newly knocked-up, returning Texan entrepreneur could handle much more.
Pregnancy and a cross-country move are hard enough, but layer on the stress of launching a new company and I may have aged a decade this summer. For a few months now, I've been holed up with my team building The Skinny - the first online, members-only sample sale for skincare products (i.e. luxury skincare brands at affordable prices).
But one thing is clear, pregnancy hormones aside, all the stress is taking a toll on my skin. "The mind and skin are connected on many different levels," psychodermatogist Karin Mallin explained in an interview with WebMD. "A lot of nerve endings are connected to the skin, which wraps around the organs, so as emotions are played out neurologically, they can be expressed through the skin just as stress can be expressed through gastrointestinal symptoms, increased anxiety, or hypertension."
At one point recently, while trying my darnedest to control a sudden bout of adult acne and an unruly to-do list, I got to the end of my rope. I decided to outline five things I need to do every day to make myself more productive, energetic, attractive to my husband and (if all goes well) sane. I jotted them down here, and thought maybe they could help some other stressed soul:
•Workout. This is a non-negotiable, so I drag myself away from the computer and around Town Lake or over to Black Swan Yoga any chance I get.
•Walk the dog. Nothing relieves stress like a stroll along Auditorium Shores with my husband and our Bernese mountain dog/squirrel-hunter extraordinaire.
•Invest in my skin. What can I say? Skincare is my business. But as my stress level goes up, my breakouts do too. Currently loving Dr. Ladd's Pumpkin Clarifying Mask.
•Ditch the TV. I haven't had a television since college, but that's not to say I don't take in my fair share of Hulu. During high-stress time, I opt for a book. Currently wrapping up Loving Frank.
•Get a housekeeper. OK, I still haven't done this. Regardless, I sleep better in a clean house. This to-do just became my next priority!
Do you have skincare concern that you suspect is brought on by stress? I'd love to hear about it... I may even have a few helpful tips to share!