It’s nearing the end of summer and you might feel as if the year is slipping away. You don’t have the time or money to take vacation, and the stress is really starting to take its toll.

Unfortunately, this is exactly how many of us live most of our lives—and according to Psychology Today, the average person spends 90,000 hours at work over the course of their lifetime. What’s worse is that the average American doesn’t take vacation time to add more meaning to their life.

A recent poll conducted by NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health finds about half of Americans who work 50-plus hours a week say they don’t take all or most of the vacation they’ve earned.

If you can’t afford to go on vacation but want to make your life feel less like an endless work-sleep-repeat cycle, consider the following tips:

Add a 10-Minute Walk to Your Day
And we don’t mean walking to and from your car after work. Even a low impact exercise such as walking can help stress slowly—but surely—melt away. It’s best to do this outside if possible, since fresh air clears your lungs and can help improve your mental health.

Let’s not forget that sunlight has its own benefits, too. Taking a walk on a sunny day can help boost serotonin levels, which is a chemical that’s responsible for boosting your mood.

Try Some Breathing Exercises (Apps Included)
According to Psychology Today, breathing techniques can help slow your heart rate, which almost instantly relieves stress. If you need a bit of guidance, there are plenty of apps you can use to track your breathing, such as Breath+ Relaxation and Breath Training by Dynamic App Design LLC. You can also find some Android breathing exercise apps on Google Play.

Say Goodbye to Clutter
While most people would rather go on vacation than clean, the truth is that too much mess affects your brain. A study conducted by UCLA discovered that all mothers in 32 Los Angeles families had spiked stress hormones during time spent with belongings and clutter. Simply put, it overloads the senses and impairs creative thinking.

Luckily, there are more than 3 ways to reduce stress in your life—although the above suggestions are backed by science. If you’re still feeling overloaded, try journaling, taking photos, petting your dog or cat, or reading some more blogs here on Best Life Hub. You’ll be glad you did.