Ommmmm.

According to our friends at AOL Health, we are ruining our lives. They’ve compiled a list of dangerous ways to relax – and unfortunately for me (and probably a lot of you) this list could pretty much make my “interests” section on Facebook.

For college students, things like zoning out in front of the TV, pigging out on greasy pizza, and binge drinking are simply facts of life: we don’t see their inherent potential to harm us, we simply perpetuate these behaviors because they’re easy or convenient or fun.

But this AOL Health article really rings true. Yeah, we do a lot of these things because in the moment, at this point in our lives, we can usually come out of these behaviors completely unscathed. Sure, it’s fine to indulge in Gossip Girl marathons once in a while, or to wake up in the middle of the night and reach for that stick of cookie dough after a hard breakup, but replacing these unhealthy, sometimes-unsafe practices with healthier ones could make a huge difference in the long run. Stress can have really serious implications, so why engage in behaviors that only do more to ruin our bodies?

Here are five awesome, easy ways to deal with stress in a healthy way:

Take a walk: It may not get your heart pumping the way a run would, but taking a walk is a great way to (literally) step away from the things that cause you stress. If it’s nice outside, the fresh air from an outdoor walk will calm you down while the monotony of keeping a steady pace allows you to focus on your thoughts. Research shows that just being outside can cause stress levels to drop.  If it’s too hot or cold outside, drive to the closest mall and walk around the entire perimeter. Just try not to get lured in by window displays!

Read: Call me old-fashioned, but I totally believe in the power of picking up a good book. And no, I’m not suggesting you download one or break out your Kindle or whatever people do these days. I’m saying make a trip to the bookstore, spend at least an hour browsing, and come home ready to crack open a page-turner. Whether your choice is cerebral (Plato, anyone?) or fun (confession: the third installment of Lauren Conrad’s LA Candy series, Sugar And Spice, is on my nightstand right now), a good book will not only take your mind off of things, it’ll also give your eyes a much-needed break from the glaring light of your computer, TV, or phone.

Cook: Working towards a goal makes you feel accomplished, but when that goal is something that can seriously affect your life, like studying for a huge test or applying for a job, it can add to your stress level. Something that feels more trivial can do the opposite. Making a new dish from scratch is the kind of thing that will make you feel like you have a purpose; luckily, no one is grading or evaluating your skills, so if you fail it’s no biggie.

Pamper yourself: Giving yourself a mini manicure is a great way to de-stress. Soak your hands and feet, slather on rich lotion, and clip/file your nails. It’s a super relaxing activity that yields real results: if you really feel like going all-out, rub a foot scrub across your heels to remove any gross calluses, cover the spot with Vaseline, and wear socks for a few hours to let it really soak in. The most important part? Choosing a bright, pretty shade of nail polish – there’s nothing more mood altering than a handful of polished nails – use a neon shade if need energy, and a pastel if you need a calming influence.

Revamp your wardrobe: Go through everything you’ve accumulated and find new ways to wear clothes that scream “three years ago.” Better yet, take these old trends and make them work right now. Have an old black blazer lying around? Wrap some fun fabric on the cuffs, sew it in place, and voila! You have a brand new boyfriend blazer (so hot right now), minus the $200 price tag. If working with your hands and evading an expensive purchase aren’t amazing ways to relax, I don’t know what will do it.

This is a stressful time of year, and it’s normal to feel overwhelmed by everything. Almost everyone experiences stress, but in different ways: what kind of stress plagues you? Find out here and learn the best ways for you to combat your stress.

I love. LOVE spa treatments. I may even love the spa more than I love chocolate. And boys. And the backstreet boys. And that, my friends, says a lot. The ONLY thing I don’t Ashlee-Simpon-style “Lo-lo-lo-love” about spas is the hefty price tag that tends to come with them. It’s a bit hard to relax with cute masseuse man getting out my stress knots when I keep stressing about I’m going to afford to eat following my de-stressing sesh.

But fret no more, my friends. If there is one thing to be in The Know about this month, it’s Prettycity’s discounted $59 spa treatments. Prettycity teams up with The Heart Truth organization every February to bring us our favorite deals and remind us the importance of taking care of our own heart health. Simply go to their website to sign up (it’s free!), type in your zip and – BOOM – discounted spa treatments by your favorite (and soon to be favorite) spas in your area of this fine nation. 

From massages to facials to teeth whitening and cellulite treatments, it’s all yours for less than $60. And while I’m not saying $60 is cheap, if you are looking to indulge, now is the time to do it!

Not to mention, this is a damn good way to say Happy Valentines Day to M-E!

To help answer this question, I’ve compiled a list of things that I feel are, and aren’t, worth the splurge during our sad and painful recession. My basic rule of thumb? Things that last are worth the cash.

What’s worth it:

Jeans. I always used to laugh at the fact that my friends paid $200+ for jeans…until I tried on my first pair of J-Brands. While you can find cheaper options, the fact of the matter is, most designer jeans are better quality. Invest in a few pairs. They feel softer, they fit better, and they last longer. Your wallet might not thank you but your tush sure will! J-Brand, Hudson, and True Religions are my top picks.

The Iphone–If you can get your fam to join in. Individual plans are pricey, but with a family plan, the monthly rates are much more affordable. The iPhone beats all other cellular choices, plain and simple; it’s genius combo of visual voicemail, thousands of apps (including Shazam, which can detect any song playing nearby and tell you what it is), iPod, internet, and more makes it the clear choice. So worth it.

Haircuts/Hair dying. If you’re looking to change your hairstyle or color dramatically, please go to a salon. Now I’m not saying you should spend $200 to get a trim, but good haircutters/colorists can really make a difference on your do (mom, I hope you’re reading this—put that herbal essences hair-dye DOWN!). So when should you indulge? When you want layers, highlights, or to alter your color dramatically. Or you can get your friend to “work her magic,” just don’t come crying to me when you’re locks are purple and lopsided.

Basics. But only ones that you will use and use and use. This includes: a little black dress, a spring jacket, a few pairs of jeans (see above), a pair of STURDY flip flops–Reef, Teva, JCrew (watch out for water on those last ones–very durable, but zero traction)–etc. You be the judge of what’s a necessity…but don’t go overboard. Those Prada shoes are NOT basics.

What’s not:

Heels: While our feet are precious, you can pamper them without spending hundreds of dollars. There are great shoes out there that are well made, and bargains. I don’t know about you, but when I wear heels out to party, they are usually covered in dirt, sweat, and other people’s footprints by the time I get home. Point being, I’m not about to go throw my savings on a pair of Jimmy Choo’s. Instead, I love to shoe-shop at victoriassecret.com, shiekhshoes and DSW. To get your fix of strappy goodness, check out these (cheap!) beauties.

Manicures: Unless you’re extremely uncoordinated, DIY manicures can yield results just as pretty as those from a salon. Even better than do-it-yourself? Grab a friend and paint each other’s nails. One tip: After clipping, filing, and moisturizing your hands, buff each nail’s surface with a very rough buffer—this will help the polish stick and stay put for weeks. For summer, I adore bright shades. Try Essie, a cheap polish brand that has everything from neon yellows (great with tan/dark skin) to bright reds (beautiful on the fair).

Toiletries: Taking care of your body and face is important, no doubt, but people really underestimate the effectiveness that cheaper products can have. My $7 face cream has quenched my skin’s thirst just as well as my friend’s $50 bottle has quenched hers. And my Maybeline mascara has plumped my lashes just as well as that Dior Show I mistakenly purchased once. Until your skin is ridden with wrinkles and you need some serious skin care products, stick to affordable options.

Underwear: My opinion on undergarments? If they’re not visible, they shouldn’t be blasting your budget. And as for the claim that guys like when girls wear expensive, intricate lingerie? It’s false. I can assure you that the guy you’re sleeping with won’t care whether you’re wearing a bra from gap or La Perla–he’ll just wanna get that thing off! That said, it’s fun to feel comfy and sexy, even if you’re alone in the comfort of your own dorm room. Victoria’s Secret’s 5/25 undies deals are awesome, and they come in tons of cute styles, proving that you don’t have to sacrifice feeling sexy for staying on a budget.

Sunglasses: While designer shades can look pretty sleek, $15 ones can too. And since I lose my sunglasses about every 5 minutes, spending hundreds on them seems pretty dumb. Urban has a lot of funky choices that will fit a tight budget.

Gym Membership: Most universities and colleges offer on-campus gyms, but if you’re a graduate, or your school is lacking facilities, take the opportunity to get outside. Spending hundreds on a gym membership is not worth it when you have the great outdoors! Run, walk, hike, or do some at-home workouts—for free! Whatever floats your boat.

[Ever see something you want but don’t have the money to buy? Ever get sick of studying/watching TV and have the urge to get crafty and make things on your own? We know! Us too! We just don’t know where to start, which is why we got some of CollegeCandy’s craftiest writers to share their favorite DIY projects with everyone. So get to your nearest craft store for the essentials and let’s make some fun sh*t.]

In these tough economic times, everyone is penny-pinching. Everyone is also totally stressing, including college-age women, about money, about finding a job, about passing that last exam so you can pass the class and head home for a summer of beaching and BBQ.

And while you wouldn’t waste any money on an expensive massage or other relaxing spa treatment, you really need it, dammit! You’ve been studying for weeks now and all that stress is taking a toll on your body.

If you need a little luxury in your life that doesn’t put a strain on your already-thinning wallet, keep reading. I’ve got a homemade chocolate face mask that is cheap, simple, relaxing, and will get your pores looking as fresh and clean as the $100 spa alternative.

It’s also kind of delicious. Not that I ever tried it…

Ingredients:
Cocoa Powder
Milk
Small Bowl
Spoon

THAT’S IT! BELIEVE IT!

Instructions:
1. In the small bowl, pour about 1 tbsp of milk
2. Add about equal amounts of cocoa powder and mix
3. Continue to add milk or cocoa powder until you have a pasty consistency
4. Apply to your freshly-washed face, kick back on the couch with the latest issue of Glamour and leave on until dry (about 20-30 minutes)
5. Wash your face with warm water
6. Enjoy your glowing complexion!

Cheap and easy. Just how I like it.