As women, sometimes the more we look around us, the more we feel inadequate. Constantly comparing our weaknesses to other people’s strengths. So how do we find peace and self-acceptance when it feels like everyone around us is racing against each other? Try these tips on for size…

• Spend more time outdoors. Whether or not you choose to exercise outdoors is up to you, but the simple benefits of breathing in the fresh air can go a long way. Try just sitting on your front porch or walking to the park. Take it a step further and turn off your phone. Spending time in nature to reconnect with yourself, away from the noise of everyday life, can do amazing things for your peace of mind.

• Make time each day for the things you enjoy. All too often we spend our time doing what we have to do, like going to work, and forget to make time for the things that always made us happy growing up. Of course, it can be difficult to find the time, but you can. It may just mean waking up a little bit earlier a couple days a week.

• Make a list of positive affirmations and repeat them to yourself daily. Positive affirmations are statements or declarations of things you like about yourself, i.e., “I am fun to be around. I bring out the best in others. I like myself.” The more you repeat these to yourself, the more you’ll believe and act them.

• Listen to songs that bring back good memories or put you in your happy place. I attended a Jason Mraz concert last year and had an amazing experience. It was hands down one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to. Now, when I need some tunes to cheer me up or help me de-stress, I listen to my Jason Mraz album and belt it out with no hesitation.

• Acknowledge your negative thoughts, but don’t indulge them. Remember the Russell Crowe movie, A Beautiful Mind? He plays a brilliant schizophrenic who eventually learns that he can’t make his hallucinations (his make-believe friends) go away, all he can do is choose not to interact with them. When it comes to negative thoughts and self-comparison, sometimes the most effective thing we can do is acknowledge that they’re there and then move on. Don’t try to interact with or analyze them—that will only make them more real.

• Take action. Distract yourself by doing kind things for others and you’ll quickly forget about your own problems. It doesn’t have to be a time-consuming service project. Just make a mental effort to be kind to someone and you’ll start feeling better immediately.

This article originally appeared in The Outfit.