We’re always caught up in the hustle and bustle of our busy lives every day. Our phones are buzzing from social media and texts, we’re zoned in on every new email coming to our inbox, and we’re constantly looking for the next event to go to. Sometimes this feeling of being busy is satisfying as we’re accomplishing more and always have another thing to look forward to. In college, so much happens during each day that a week from today can feel like its years away. But staying too busy can sometimes take a toll on our mental and physical health, especially if we’re feeling too stressed or are becoming short of sleep.
Practicing mindfulness is the perfect way to slow things down a notch during the day and reflecting on the here and now. Doing exercises that involve using mindfulness meditation for anxiety is great to combat any feelings of stress that can become pent up as well. Knowing how and when to practice it will bring on a needed peace of mind and the confidence that you can take on the day.
Mindfulness While In College
I’m not going to lie, in college I feel like I’m always stressed about the next rush event to make an appearance at or the next deadline to meet. It’s also a time where everything is extremely important like acing midterms, applying for killer internships, and making an impact on campus. One method that’s helped me practice mindfulness and reflect on my thoughts is doing meditation every morning when I wake up. During extremely stressful days, this really helps me because I can take just ten minutes to slow down my breathing, clear my mind, and get my body prepared for the day to come. Usually during this time I will put on my favorite Spotify playlist of calming music, like slow piano or jazz, to let my feelings of anxiety release. Avoid any songs with fast beats or loud lyrics that would encourage you to lose focus and sing along!
Another great method is self-visualization if you’re feeling built up stress. This idea is practiced by hundreds of professional athletes, musicians, corporate leaders, and actors who need to feel self-assured about their performance. Take out the results-based focus you have and insert mindfulness by imagining the best scenario that could happen about whatever you’re worrying about it. Play the day from the moment you wake up to the hour you go to bed as if you’re doing everything correctly. Playing out the scenario in your head will help you feel extra confident about how you’ll take action when the real time comes.
Writing Your Thoughts
One great way to practice mindfulness before you start your day is to keep a daily journal. I’ve noticed that writing down my thoughts, worries, and excitement helped me process my emotions a lot better and gain a stronger understanding of how I operate. Stressed about a test coming up? Write it down. Pissed about a fight you had with your friend? Write down why you got so upset. It’s likely that you’ll realize the moods you experienced were for a reason and you’ll learn how to manage them moving forward. You can also practice gratitude by writing in your journal which helps build a better sense of resilience when times get tough. Focusing more attention to positive experiences is great mindfulness meditation for anxiety you may feel no matter what happens. There’s a great deal of spirituality in recovery from negative emotions and events that can be cared for when you’re taking time to write out your thoughts.
Off The Phone
Taking time away from your phone and social media is another meaningful mindfulness exercise for clearing your thoughts. Social media is bombarding our lives every minute, because we’re hooked to the way it makes us feel. We’re addicted to the vibrating our phone gets from an update, the funny Facebook videos, and the gorgeous Instagram shots that make us dream of vacations to come. However, spending too much time on these platforms can lead to social media obsession disorder in some people who depend on it for emotional highs. If you’re feeling sad or stressed, you may feel more inclined than usual to check who just liked your photo, messaged you online, or are tagging you in a new meme. We’re only human and sometimes that’s the emotional support we need to lighten our spirits during an otherwise dull day. At the same time, try to stay aware of how often you’re checking your phone and social media from morning to night. Often, we can miss meaningful moments with the people we’re around and miss important cues we’d notice we actually paid attention. Make sure you can leave a positive impression on your family and friends and not a memory of being glued to your screen!
Final Thoughts
You owe it to your body to stay alert, healthy, and strong for years to come. Staying too caught up in being busy during the day and meeting all your deadlines while sacrificing your mental state can take a toll. Practicing mindfulness is the perfect way to not allow that aspect of your health to go down the drain. If you’re curious about how mindful you are in general, consider taking a quick mindfulness quiz that can assess your personal strategy on how to stay calm during the storm. Often, we might be missing several important cues from our body that we need to pay more attention to. It only takes a few minutes from your day to learn more about reflecting on our thoughts and emotions so we can better manage them in the future. Don’t wait to get educated!
