Stress is one of the most taxing trials for your mind and body. It’ll make you want to nurse that headache you got from snipping at your annoying soon-to-be-ex best friend with a gallon of ice cream before righteously cutting off some bonehead driver who totally deserves it because, damn it, your back hurts, and finish off by sobbing into your pillow that nobody cares you’re probably coming down with the cancer or something (which is kind of an insult to people who are actually sick when you think about it).

Chill out, sugar tits! If not for your health alone, do it for your looks because if you’re going through a time like described above you’re probably eye-puffed, skin-imbalanced, too fat or too skinny for yourself, and possibly sporting that caged, crazy-eyes look (totally me at my wedding). Everything’s going to turn out one way or the other regardless of whether you dedicate your wrinkles to worrying about it or not. Your world is your perception of it, nothing more and nothing less.

Personally, I constantly feel like I need to be doing more more more. Not that I’m some go-getter. Hardly! But I seem to think I need to be in order to be a valuable person, and that’s a stressful combo pack. Obviously the answer to a lot of stress is to just be cool with yourself and think less, but you can’t even begin to organize that mess if you’re too busy worrying about stupid, everyday BS.

Some de-stressing tips to help the inner beauty shine:

-Exercise. Isn’t it incredible how your mind likes how it feels after exercising, but doesn’t admit it the next time? So sneaky. When I feel like I can’t fathom getting off my ass, I try to make a much lesser goal like a short bike ride or pool dip, or even just a few lunges in front of another episode of Breaking Bad.

-Yoga time USA! This is always recommended for stress because you get the body moving in really right ways, and then you chill out to tranquil music in the dark. Plus, if you feel like the work out is too hard, you can always just lay there for a while. No one cares!

-Think about what would be the real consequences of what you’re worried about. You fail a test. Ok, so what would really happen? Can you do an extra project, get a tutor for the next one (cute nerdy type)? You fail the class? Ok, so what? You take it again or drop it from your transcript? You might be out some cash or time, but are you maimed and left for dead? Now that would be something to worry about.

-Take some time to figure out what relaxes you. I go for the classic wine in the bubbly tub with a book. Ok fine, also horribly terrible cheesy romantic comedies – on occasion. I think my brain unwillingly unleashes fuzzy-happy-making chemicals when the guy finally gets the girl.

Dedicate some time this weekend to one of the above, or something you’ve come up with on your own to relax. Let the week go. F_ck the week.