Without a doubt, the start of the school year brings stressful changes to your lifestyle, leading to less sleep and increased mental strain, common factors that lead to the dreaded dark circles under your eyes.

Dark circles are caused by sleep deprivation and stress which offset bad circulation, and cause fluids to build up under the eye area. Since the skin under the eyes is thin and sensitive, fluid buildup becomes very visible. For some people, maintaining a healthy sleep schedule may be the fix, but for others, dark circles may be genetics and require other lifestyle changes as well. Whatever the case may be, these tips below will help you improve and prevent dark circles.

 1. Get at least eight hours of uninterrupted sleep. This is very important to prevent and treat dark circles. Healthy sleeping habits are effective, but may take time to eliminate dark circles.

 2. Sleep with two pillows, and preferably on your back. This will give your face a natural lift and prevent excess fluid from building up under the eye area. This also prevents morning puffiness and premature wrinkles.

 3. Splash your face with warm water followed by cold water to increase circulation in the morning. Make sure not to use water that is too hot, as it will irritate the sensitive eye area even more.

 4. Avoid rubbing and touching your eyes directly at any time of the day, especially when you are cleansing your face. Instead, place a lather on your eyelids and press lightly with your fingers. This will clean the eye area without irritation.

 5. Use temporary skin lightening fixes like cucumber slices or potato slices. Lemon juice and tomato juice also help lighten the skin. Mix equal parts of cucumber juice and lemon juice for a brightening and cooling effect.

6. Drink green tea instead of coffee. Not only is it a healthier source of caffeine, it is also packed with antioxidants and skin-loving ingredients. The cooled green tea bags are also effective at temporarily reducing dark circles, as they shrink blood vessels and diminish swelling.

7. Exercise daily and practice deep breathing. This will improve body circulation to prevent fluid buildup and will also help you sleep better.

8. Eat plenty of leafy greens such as kale and spinach and drink plenty of water because your body needs these vitamins and minerals to flush toxins out. Dark circles are one of the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency. It also helps to eat a handful of almonds between meals.

9. Avoid salty foods which cause the body to retain water, thus causing eye puffiness and dark circles. If you consume high sodium foods, drink plenty of water afterwards and eat a spoonful of grated white radish which helps flush toxins out.

10. Manage stress and make time to relax. Stress is one factor that causes sleep deprivation, a cause of dark circles. So make time to do things you love, or talk to a friend or family member.

11.Wear sunglasses- not only does it cover your dark circles, but it also prevents sunburn, which irritates the eye area and worsen dark circles. If you apply sunscreen under your eye area, make sure it is light formula.

With these tips, your eyes should be looking fresh and awake during those stressful mornings.