By Caroline Jacobson

With all the attack ads and negativity, stress levels run high during election season. But smiling can greatly improve your approval rating. Here’s how:

1. Smiling helps you relax.

Just like a good night’s rest, smiling reduces stress. Stress is linked to anxiety, anger, depression and teeth grinding, which can lead to temporomandibular disorder.

If you’re watching election coverage and start feeling anxious, we suggest taking a break and flipping the channel to something more likely to bring a smile to your face. We hear Zootopia is good!

2. Smiling benefits your heart.

Those who are engaged in politics are more likely to be fatigued, anxious or depressed, which can put additional stress on your heart. When stress is excessive, it contributes to high blood pressure and heart disease, but researchers found that smiling can slow down the heart and reduce stress. Don’t let your heart take the heat of a presidential debate. Smile during the commercial break by pulling up a cat video.

3. Smiling makes you likable.

Take note, future politicians! If you smile more, you’ll appear more likeable. Smiles are even contagious, making those around you happy too.

If smiles still can’t count on your vote, read more benefits to parading your pearly whites.