Research was released earlier this year that claimed taking Tylenol lessened the pain of social rejection. When I first read it, all I thought of was how simple this would’ve been in middle school (I was picked last a lot in gym). As many students are graduating this year, Tylenol seems like a pretty good way to shield yourself from the job search blues. What if Tylenol could fix anything you wanted?

We’ve listed a few prime choices of our own!

initiating the gallery...

[Lead image via HamsterMan/Shutterstock]

Yes, the school year just started, but man am I already stressed out. Even if you’re not in college, life is stressful. There’s always some sort of stress factor. I went to the dentist this morning, and my conversation went something like this:

Dentist: Do you have a lot of stress in your life right now?

Me: Um, yeah I guess. Why?

Dentist: I can tell you’ve been clenching and grinding your teeth in your sleep, which usually comes from high stress levels. Would you like to get fitted for a night-guard?

Seriously, that happened. No, I’m not getting a night-guard. But stress is a problem, and it causes other problems like breakouts and lack of focus. I had the opportunity to test out three really cool products: Clearogen, no!no! Skin, and 21 Drops. Watch below!

On my face: Smashbox Anti-Shine, Painted Earth Perfect Every Thyme Baked Mineral Foundation, NARS Orgasm Blush, Dior Blackout Mascara

Got something you want me to cover? Post it in the comments below. And don’t forget to follow us on YouTube and check out my other videos right here! And for more beauty related tips, check out my website and follow me on Twitter!

We’ve all heard that we should try to avoid the dreaded “Freshman Fifteen” (which is actually more like the “Freshman Seven”), but there are other important benefits to maintaining a good nutrition and exercise routine. The better you treat your body, the better you will feel. The better you feel, the more successful you’ll be in school and the more energy you’ll have for the really fun stuff. Read on to learn how you can use the latest discoveries in health and fitness to stay healthy, happy, and motivated this school year.

1.     Cut down on time at the gym with interval workouts.

Intervals have long been an important part of many exercise routines. But a new study has shown that intense interval workouts may be just as effective as time-consuming endurance training. The study divided its subjects, healthy college students, into two groups. One group rode a stationary bike at a sustained pace for 90 to 120 minutes three times per week. The other group pedaled as hard as they could for 20 to 30 seconds, with short breaks in between, for a total of about six minutes of intense riding per day. The result? The students who rode intervals showed just a much of an increase in their endurance as the students who did sustained training, and showed the same molecular indicators of increased fitness in their muscles.

So if you don’t hours to spend at the gym, you can still get a great workout with a series of short, intense intervals. In order for this to work, you really have to push yourself, so give those intervals all you’ve got.

2.     Exercise to reduce stress and feel more focused.

In the unforgettable words of Elle Woods, “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands.” While you probably don’t have a husband, a good workout may keep you from freaking out on your roommate. It will also help you pay more attention and concentrate in class. So don’t say you’re too stressed to go to the gym! Working out or even just taking a walk will help you feel better and complete that mountain of homework more efficiently.

3.     Stock up on healthy snacks.

Busy schedules and late nights can lead to lots of snacking, which doesn’t have to be a bad thing. A recently published study, the most comprehensive look so far at the causes of weight gain, showed that what you eat makes a big difference. Some results were expected – the participants who gained the most weight over a 20-year period ate large amounts of french fries, potato chips, sugar-sweetened drinks, red meats and desserts. Most people who maintained their weight or lost weight ate lots of standard healthy foods – fruits, vegetables and whole grains. But, surprisingly, consumption of dairy had a neutral effect on weight gain and weight loss was greatest among the subjects who ate lots of peanut butter and yogurt.

So, you can replace fried and processed snacks with food that tastes good, but is still healthy. Try some peanut butter on a whole grain cracker, or naturally sweet fruit yogurt instead of potato chips and soda from the vending machine. Fueling your body properly will give you more energy and prevent weight gain.

4.     Fidget!

In my favorite study of the summer, researchers found that performing more “incidental movement” each day – from tapping a toe while sitting to walking up the stairs instead of taking the elevator – helps improve cardiovascular fitness. This is great news for college students, since we spend so much time sitting. The study also found that some people are naturally more inclined to fidget throughout the day. If you’re one of those people (I definitely am), then keep it up! If not, start fidgeting! It’s possible to improve your health with the simplest, smallest movements, as well as larger changes like walking short distances instead of driving. Just try not to annoy your classmates by making noise or kicking their desks.

“If one more person raises their hand in class and asks what time the final exam is as it is written in the 80 page syllabus, I’m going to vow to never eat a scone from the caf ever again. And that’s serious.”

“I think somebody farted in class today and I hope it wasn’t the hot dude. I really like looking at him and that would totally ruin things for me.”

These aren’t conversations I have anymore. In fact, I can’t even believe I used to have them. They are completely pointless, entirely stupid and absolutely glorious.  Ok FINE, I wish I still talked about this kind of stuff on a daily basis – but things have been a little different in my new post grad life. I never said people don’t fart in meetings rooms, but they aren’t sexy and I won’t tell anyone about it.

I’ve noticed a huge shift in my conversations lately. They’re like, slightly grown up. Flash Notice: I still talk about sex, flatulence, snot and totally gross 5-year-old boy things – just bare with me while I try to sound cool and old. Here are the top five new things I’m chatting about these days (that I’m not quite used to yet):

1. Work

Work is by far the most popular post grad topic to blab about (partially because you don’t know what else to think about and partially because it’s all you know to think about). People at work. Arguments at work. Mistakes at work. Failing at work. Having a “semi-good day” at work. Secret work crushes. You ate lunch at your desk at work. You spoke your mind in a meeting at work. You drank a lot of water at work so you’d waste time going to the bathroom at work. Everything I talk about nowadays is fogged with that ‘w’ word. Work, work, work, WORK.

2. People getting married/engaged/pregnant on Facebook

Vanished are the days that I can look at Facebook and point and laugh at the embarrassing pictures of people getting hammered in public. This happens at least once a day for me. I open up Facebook, glance over the news feed and look up from my computer to screen to my roommate that yet another high school classmate popped out a baby and took the baby daddy’s stupid last name.

3. Not making enough money

I don’t know how long THIS one is going to last but it’s already getting old. I get a big girl job and suddenly think I should be making enough money to shop at Pottery Barn and J Crew on a weekly basis. Not really the case people. I have a paid salary ego and it’s gotta go.

4. Stress.

This is a conversation topic spawned from the work topic. After spending all day talking about how I’m not married, single, not making that much money and dealing with everything at my job – I can’t help but to talk about how many zits I have because all I do is stress eat and pick at my face.

5. The future

In college, all I talked about was…college (and where we were spending thirsty Thursday). The future was a dark blob that sat in the corner of my mind, untouched with minimal regret for feeling that way. Now, the future lays out in front of me like a fresh tar highway that I am being forced to drive on at top speed. And all I want to do is talk about it with my friends! “Where do you think we’re going to be in a year? What happens if I make this decision, how much will it effect the next few months? Will I lie in a box in two months because I want to quit my job and the economy is bad?”

Who knows. And that’s the beauty of it all.

The key word in the past two sentences is: sure. College sure wasn’t stressful at all.

In this real world I’m treading through (or flailing through), stress has been tumbling upon me like a pile of heavy, wet and unapologetic rocks. Because while in college the stress was completely personal, when you get a job – stress leaks onto other people’s plates. Suddenly, you’re no longer only responsible for yourself. You’re responsible for an entire company. Um, HELLO.

My body has been completely tweaking out on me because of the stressful job world. I have zits on my cheeks (I usually only get them in my t-zone), I wake up with night tremors about screwing up and I have been listening to more Enya than usual. While these may be personal problems, I have come up with a system to aid my stressed out tendencies…and I want to share them with you. And trust me; these new stress remedies are way different than college stress remedies. Think tea bags (the kind at the grocery store) instead of beer bongs. Think candles in place of a 14-hour Grey’s Anatomy marathons. Think timeliness practicality.

1. Flowers

I have officially purchased a flower for my desk at work and put it next to my keyboard. Yes, it’s fake. Yes, I can’t keep a real one alive. Yes, it’s been scientifically proven (because what hasn’t) that flowers soothe the soul and make you feel…brighter! Bring on the daffodils betches.

2. Tea

Come bedtime, I’m so wound up from the business of work – I feel like I can’t put my head down and shut off my wild thoughts. A minute of sink water in the microwave and a sleepy time tea bag turns my freaky little life around.

3. Calm alarm clock

I used to have an alarm clock set to sound like aliens were invading my room because I was scared I wouldn’t wake up otherwise. Bad choice. Because when I did wake up, I thought the world was ending. NOT the way to start the day. Now, I’ve happily changed my alarm clock to sound like a baby angel lullaby. I still wake up…and it’s not in a hot sweat.

4. Black beans

Black beans are said to reduce anxiety. You’ll be willing to bet I’ve been hitting the black bean burritos hard for work lunches these past few weeks. TMI for you? Maybe, but totally the best anxiety remedy for me. Oh, and if you’re too good for black beans -salmon, walnuts, avocados and eggs are said to zap those little free radicals that contribute to lighting up your personal stress bomb.

5. Sleeping

This seems like an obvious answer, but sometimes I get big headed and (just because I’m “young”) think I can deal with the 5-6 hour snooze. However, when I do get 8 hours plus, I feel like I could transform into a machine mid way through the day. I’m unstoppable. I radiate sunlight. When I walk, I leave a trail of glitter. Really – it’s magical. Stress is an after thought.

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But girls, don’t let that get you down. There are lots of ways to relax when everyone you know is having a minor brain aneurysm.

1. Indulge.
I don’t know about you guys, but when articles tell me to “eat healthy snacks!” when I’m stressed, I just want to punch the writer in the face. You don’t know me. When I’m writing a 15-page history paper at 3am in the library, you know what I don’t want? A carrot stick. However, I will take an entire pizza and a chocolate milkshake, thanks. All I’m saying is: if eating a whole thing of Kraft mac’n’cheese and a plate of cookies is going to make you feel good for at least at hour, do it… just so you don’t strangle that girl next to you in the computer lab. (How to make your favorite unhealthy foods healthy)

2. Sweat it out.
You might be lacking on time to eat, time to sleep, and time to finish that project you’ve been procrastinating doing for two weeks…but make some time to sweat out your frustration. Go for a run, do some yoga, find a sweet kickboxing video and punch the air. Trust me, you’ll thank me when you remain calm when someone reminds you that your big paper is due in a week. (This will also burn of all those calories that you consume from indulging.)

3. Get away from people.
Last year, I was sitting in the library when suddenly the girl next to me broke down into tears and started sobbing to me about how everything was going wrong!! It was truly startling. So, firstly, please don’t be that girl, it is super awkward. And secondly, if you start notice people around you looking like they might just start trying to have a heart to heart with you while they cry, get out. Don’t let others stress you out more than necessary. (Meet the other 7 people you’ll meet in the library)

4. Facebook is not the enemy.
Are you one of those people who does homework for 10 minutes, then checks Facebook, then another 10 minutes, then…? Obviously, not a practice that is very conducive to studying or getting much done, but I actually totally support it. Why? Personally, I get totally burnt out when I’m studying and I have nothing else to do. I end up just staring blankly at the page for three hours, which is also not conducive to getting much done. So if checking Facebook, or Twitter, or CollegeCandy, every 10 minutes keeps you working, then do it.

5. Have one fun night with your friends.
Your besties might be freaking out about having multiple papers due during the week, but you know what will make you all feel better and more motivated? Having a little fun. It doesn’t have to be the whole night or even more than two hours. Lure them away from their books and laptops, ply them with candy, and watch your favorite movie (my personal favorite during finals week is always “Love Actually” – c’mon, it’s got Hugh Grant!). Even if they leave about 30 minutes, that is 30 minutes of calm they have had in a day, or an entire week, of freaking out. They will thank you for it — and it will prevent them from further stressing you out with their stress.

6. Pamper yourself.
Seriously. There is nothing better than spending a night holed up in your room, watching your favorite TV show (my favorite is Grey’s Anatomy), and painting your toenails, eating your favorite snack, and ignoring the chaos that is erupting on campus in the library. Turn off your phone and veg out in your DIY dorm room spa, completely removed from the stress test tube environment of college.

Girls, finals week is hard. It is a ridiculous time of year defined by random breakdowns and deep regret regarding procrastination. But it doesn’t have to completely ruin your sanity. Do what you need to do to stay sane, happy, and healthy. These are just a few suggestions – I’m sure there are a ton more. What do you do to stay sane during finals week?

April is only two clicks months away.

TWO MONTHS.

That’s shorter than a season of the Bachelor.

And that doesn’t even account for all the days off I have coming up.

Currently, I’m enjoying a five-day weekend. I’ll head into class one day next week, and then two more the week after, and then it’s Spring Break time. And when I get back there will only be three more weeks of March. And then it’s April. A month filled with weeks shortened by Easter and Passover holidays. The month I thought was oh so far away. The month I can pick up my cap and gown. My last month of undergraduate classes. My last month as a college student. Maybe April is closer than I thought. I mean, how did we even get to February already anyway?

The first few months passed quickly, in that beginning of the semester mania, which has now settled down. At least for me. There’s nothing left to worry about. The dreaded senior thesis is done except for some edits and a defense of said thesis that is too far away for me to be freaking out over yet. I’ve also finally settled into my senior capstone classes, grinning and bearing the literary theory as I focus more on the texts we’re reading. (Ian McEwan’s Saturday is amazing by the way. The language alone is like poetry.)

And so suddenly I find myself with more Facebook stalking time than I’ve had in quite a while.

When the semester first started I posted about how a stress free semester was probably impossible, about how I was totally okay with that because I work best under pressure. And sure the adrenaline rush is great and all but as I sit here, unable to think of anything to complain about, I might have to rethink that statement. Peace and tranquility isn’t all bad. I mean, on Monday not only did I wake up early enough to stop at Starbucks before class, but the barista gave me an extra shot of espresso in my macchiato. On Friday the weather was warm enough that I had to pull out my spring coat. And now, I don’t have to go back to class until Wednesday.

It appears that my senior year is not coming to an end with a bang, as I had anticipated, but with an evenly paced, enjoyable stroll. And while it’s entirely possible that two weeks from now I could be eating my words, right now I’m just going to enjoy it.

That was me, as I sat down to coffee with my friend approximately one hour before the start of my first class of the year. I was hopeful, really I was. Along with an awesome internship, I’m only taking two classes, a senior seminar, and a senior reflective tutorial, the capstones for my English major. I mean, how hard could those be, right? As is, I’ve already cut my workload in half. And, sure, I’m still working on my thesis, but I’m at the halfway mark, and I just have to find some time to actually write it. (Read: Cut my Facebook stalking time in half.) So really there’s not much to worry about, right? My friend, and fellow senior just looked at me and laughed. And, well, actually, she’s probably still laughing right now.

I had high hopes, really I did. My winter break was enjoyable. And productive. My schedule seemed promising. I came back, fresh-faced, relaxed and ready to take on the final semester.

And then, well, then I got hit with a thesis discussion meeting, multiple club budget meetings, a 5-page paper to do over the weekend, and too much reading to type out for all of you. Plus a weekend full of familial obligations. Not exactly what I had in mind for my first week back. But hey, if there’s one thing I learned in college it’s that nothing ever goes quite the way you planned. So I really should have known, this semester wouldn’t exactly be “stress free.”  Which, you know, isn’t exactly a bad thing, either.

You see as I gulped down a coffee and attempted to plan out how I was going to finish all of my homework, attend my grandmother’s 80-something birthday party, and show my face at a family friend’s sweet sixteen (that sure felt like a time warp) I remembered something I read in my school paper a while back.

One of the editors wrote a piece about the fact that she didn’t know how to function without a lot to do, that she did her best work when pressed for time, that the adrenaline rush that accompanied  a last-minute paper was way better than any Red Bull. I agreed with her then, and I agree with her now. Why else would we procrastinate so much? Put things off to the last-minute? Why else is senioritis such a contagious disease? And why is it that I can get more done in one hour on Sunday night that I can get done in an entire weekend?

Because I’m a college student. And college students “work well under pressure,” as we like to put it.  And while this may not be a method that provides me with a stress free semester, it is a method that works for me. And I bet it’s a method that works for you too.

Because, we’re all busy. We all take on too much. But that doesn’t mean we won’t get it done. We know we’ll get it done. We know ourselves. We know what we can handle. We can volunteer for charity, work part-time, spend an hour Facebook stalking,  head to class on two hours of sleep, and crank out an A paper in less than 24 hours, all while still managing to fit in some chill time and a late night hookup. So let’s enjoy it while we can; I know I plan to, because something tells me we won’t be able to pull all that off with quite the same finesse a few years from now.

[It's a new year (which I am having trouble remembering when I have to write the date on anything), meaning it's the perfect time to wipe that slate clean and start anew. And we're gonna help you out. Every Thursday in January we're bringing you advice from experts on ways to improve yourself and your life. From mental health to making the most of your workspace, we'll all work together to get our lives, health and GPAs back on track. First we feng shui-ed our rooms to make them happier, more productive places; now it's time to overhaul our inner selves with mind/body coach, Sarah Yost.]

Stressors in life are inevitable: deadlines, expectations, the lack of time to do it all. But you don’t have to be at the mercy of those things. The less you stress the better you’ll feel and the more you’ll accomplish. Think about your energy as if you have a finite amount of it every day. If you use a lot of it stressing out about things beyond your control, you’re left without the energy you need to actually do the things that matter to you.

So how does one simply not stress?

Try these six easy tips to calm down and preserve your energy so you can accomplish everything on your plate and all those other things you just want to have time for.

Attend to your breath.
You know how people are always telling you to “just breath”? Well, there’s a reason for it! Full diaphragmatic breaths aren’t going to cut a full fledged panic attack, but they will make a noticeable difference. Full breaths change you physiologically, bringing more oxygen to your blood, slowing the heart rate and soothing the nervous system.

Try this: Inhale through the nose to the count of four, exhale through your mouth to the count of four.  Do that four times. That simple exercise will make a huge difference, and it takes less than a minute and you can do it anywhere with your eyes open. No one needs to know what you’re up to and you don’t need to schedule any extra time in your busy day to find some inner peace.

Schedule breaks.
Productivity decreases with time spent on projects. And if you try to push through just to get done, you’ll get less done. Even brief breaks recharge the brain, allowing it to function more optimally.

Have you ever forgotten a word—something simple, that’s just on the tip of your tongue? The more you focus on trying to remember it, the more elusive it gets. And then when you stop forcing it, it floats to the front of your consciousness. The same kind of thing happens when you’re pushing through while studying or doing big projects. Breaks are necessary for success, so while it seems counter-productive, give yourself some time away to breathe (or just not to think about it for a bit), then come back and get it done right.

Decide how you want to feel.
When you awaken each day, think about what you want to feel that day: focused, clear, competent, joyful, confident, strong. Whatever it is (even simply “happy”), pick a word or emotion that appeals to you. Then, make your choices for the day based on whether it will support that feeling state. Like everything in life, if you make the effort of making it a goal, you’ll be more cognizant to make it happen.

Avoid overwhelm
When you’ve got a lot coming your way in a short amount of time, it can seem impossible to get through it all….at least without a major stress session. The key is breaking it all down. Capture everything swimming around your head that needs to be addressed. Whether you’re overwhelmed with all of your responsibilities or with one big project or paper, write down everything that’s swimming around in your brain so you have some room in there to figure out what to do first. Then, break down the project into smaller, more manageable pieces.

If you feel muddled or overwhelmed at any point in the planning process, you need to break down the steps even further. Each first step needs to feel ridiculously easy or you’ll never get through it. Newton’s Law of Motion says what’s in motion stays in motion. Breaking down a project into ridiculously easy steps will get you moving and once you’re moving on it, you’re more likely to keep moving on it.

Laugh.
It’s impossible to laugh and worry at the same time. Plus, laughter decreases the levels of stress hormones and increases healthy hormone levels. Aim for laughing 20 times a day by exposing yourself to funny things (bookmark this, ladies), laughing at your mistakes instead of taking yourself so seriously, and hanging out with people who laugh a lot (it’s contagious).

Let your mistakes go.
Look for others who can benefit from your mistakes. Tell them what you did and how you overcame it. This can be in the form of a lesson or a funny anecdote. The more open and honest you are with others, the more they’ll reciprocate. Screw ups aren’t nearly as terrible when you realize you’re not alone. And if nothing else, sharing it might make you laugh about it…and that’s just another way to make it all better.

Get more of Sarah’s expertise at www.sarahwagneryost.com.