In the aftermath of the election, there is one thing we can all agree on — it has been a long, hard-fought path to the White House. It’s time for a time-out, and some self-care for ourselves and our communities.

In an insightful CNN article, Sandee LaMotte says, “Before you decide what to do next, pause for a moment. Know that tired brains don’t work well. When you’re sleep deprived, your metabolism slows down, sending less blood flow to such frontal-lobe executive functions as creativity, compassion, emotional regulation, the ability to handle conflicting perspectives and rational judgment.”

The solution? Try these six science-backed ways to give ourselves a break.