It's that time of year again. Yes, college students, you know that time. Finals week is getting here faster and faster. And if you're anything like me, you're running around like a deranged pigeon who doesn't know how they got themselves 17 credits deep. But, there's good news in this time of despair: Meditation! It has really helped keep me on track and (mostly) stress-free! Here are some reasons why it's so great.
1. Stress-management.
Whether you’re in college two weeks before finals, going through a tough break-up, or life is testing your patience, I have great news for you: Meditation is a godsend. It lets you silence your mind and keeps you in the present. The nice thing about meditation is you can do it anywhere. Typing up a 10-page essay in the library? Stop. Plug in your headphones. Turn on some soothing music and just breathe for 15 minutes. You’ll feel refreshed and ready to knock out your assignments! In college, you develop habits that stick with you your whole life; establishing a good system to ease your stress is vital to being healthy and happy.
2. Happiness.
Want to be less snappy toward those you love? Meditation can change all of that. A clear mind is a happy mind. Having less anxiety about all the things happening in your life means you will be ready to help others and be more compassionate. We live in a world where we are constantly pestered by text messages, Facebook notifications, and a constant stream of media. Don’t feel bad about taking some personal time. On a scientific level, meditation releases endorphins that make you happy and serotonin to relax you. Two things stressed-out college kids definitely could use more of.
3. Cortisol.
Commonly known as the “stress-hormone,” cortisol promotes a negative effect on the body, including lowering your immune system, more acne, weight gain, and it can even interfere with learning and memory. Using meditation as an outlet for stress helps get your body back to its natural balance. You can do deep breathing exercises to calm your nervous system which, in turn, will “turn off” the releasing of the hormone. If you don’t know any deep breathing exercises, I recommend the 22-minute song “Ong So Hung” by Guru Singh. To practice, do a slow inhale and exhale (Ong), a full inhale (So), and a slow sustained exhale (Hung). Make sure to keep the breath out until the next “Ong.”
4. Creativity.
With a silent mind, your creativity can flow. Meditation allows for zoned-in thoughts and ideas. It relieves the pressure to be creative by letting everything just be. Sometimes you can’t think creatively because your mind is loud with a million things trying to get your attention. At times, emotions can fog the brain, allowing you not to think critically or differently in certain situations.
5. Self-awareness.
Meditation brings you back to your inner-self. It allows you to stop doing and thinking about all the crazy things you have to get done and gives you time to reflect. By doing so, you get to spend some quality time with yourself. You get to learn your own personality, feelings, and aspirations. Meditation can help you understand the people around you, as well. It can teach you to empathize, and in stressful situations, can keep you calm and clear-headed. You get to know who you really are. After all, the person who spends the most time with you, is you.
