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There are plenty of reasons to get your knickers in a twist, but here’s the good news: All you have to do is breathe to give yourself a mental break. “[Meditative breathing exercises] use the energy of our breath and our thoughts in combination,” explains Jennifer Kim, head instructor at Lakeview’s the Peace School (3121 N Lincoln Ave, 773-248-7959). Kim offers three breathing exercises to get you to that higher place:

Whenever, wherever Stop yourself whenever possible to notice your breathing and slow it down. Try this during down times in the day, like when you’re waiting for the El.

Take a seat While sitting, take comfortable, deep breaths through your nose. Follow the inner movement of your breathing. Choose a phrase such as world peace and coordinate it with your breath: Inhale thinking world and exhale thinking peace for five minutes once a day.

Catch Z’s and release Use the same practice of mentally reciting a phrase in sync with your breath when you’re trying to fall asleep. Relax your feet, inhale thinking world, exhale thinking peace. Then move up your body in increments until you’re relaxed from head to toe.

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