Sitting alone in silence for 20 minutes when you have papers due and a test the next day may seem like a complete waste of time to the average college kid, but honestly, that 20 minutes of meditation can help you out a lot more than you think. Meditating is an easy skill you can learn, all it takes is some practice. In my opinion, it's one of the most important skills you can learn in your life and can be especially useful for students. There are a lot of benefits to meditating!
1. Meditating gets rid of the stress we carry in our bodies.
As college kids, there's a lot of pressure put on us. We have school work, tests, classes to attend, clubs to join, sports, and all that other good stuff that consumes most of our daily lives. Our bodies may be carrying an enormous amount of stress, and we may not even realize it (Is your jaw clenched right now? Are your shoulders tense?). Meditating relaxes not only the mind but the body too.
2. Meditating teaches you to monitor your thoughts and emotions.
When you're busy all day every day, or constantly surrounded by people and activity, it's easy to neglect your emotions and mental health. We're so busy thinking about outside affairs (homework, friendships, tests, etc.) that we forget to think about ourselves. Meditating helps with emotional control and mindfulness, which is basically just being aware of how you feel. With practice, you'll be a lot more aware of your thoughts and emotions throughout the day, so you can be sure to take care of yourself.
3. It's a time when you can be alone with yourself
The term "alone with yourself" kind of terrifies me because all I do when I'm by myself is worry and over-analyze everything. Please know this isn't what I mean. Meditating is a time for you, and only you, to just relax and breathe deeply. We have so many interactions throughout the day, and it's very healthy to be able to just sit back, take a break from everything you're doing, and be alone with yourself.
4. It's easy to learn how to meditate, and it doesn't have to be time-consuming either
Being stressed sucks, and trying to find a way to deal with all that stress sucks even more. Meditating is perfect for busy college kids who don't have time between classes to de-stress with a hot 40-minute bath and some candles. You don't have to sit there for hours to meditate, you can do it for literally five minutes. Do it at your desk in class for God's sake. There are tons of apps and online videos that will teach you exactly how to do this, too.
5. Meditating allows you to just be in the moment.
We're all here paying thousands of dollars for tuition, attending classes while sleep deprived, and studying to get the best grades we can because we want to better our futures. I worry about my future a lot and I know other kids do too. The future all we're really taught to think about. Meditating is an escape from worrying about the future. It brings you back to the current moment and makes you aware of everything that's going on right then and there. Being in the moment is a very calming, comforting feeling.
6. You'll use it for the rest of your life.
Meditating isn't just a skill you can use to get you through some stressful exams and a few hard assignments in college. Once you learn how to meditate, you can continue to practice and improve, and use the skill over the course of your lifetime.
