College is easy.
It's like riding a bike.
And the bike is on fire.
And the ground is on fire.
And everything is on fire because, actually, college is basically hell.
Okay, honestly, it can get unreasonably stressful. Luckily, there is a weapon that you can use to get the most out of your college experience without actually wanting to jump off the top of the student union. It's called meditation, and it can literally change your entire life.
Meditation relieves stress, increases happiness and self-awareness, slows aging and promotes a healthier lifestyle overall. Here's the best part, it's been scientifically proven that people who meditate are typically smarter, more focused, and have way better social lives than people that don't. So basically, if you decide to add meditation to your daily routine, you're deciding to live a better life. It's really a no-brainer.
If you're a little hesitant, don't worry, you're not alone. Usually, when people think about meditation, they typically envision sitting crossed-legged and humming to themselves while experiencing an otherworldly sense of calm. Then they usually decide that they have neither the time, nor the patience to achieve that kind of experience. What they don't know is that there are more ways to meditate than you think.
Here's a couple;
- Listen to music.
- Plugging in your headphones and enjoying your favorite song is a great way to meditate. The trick is to focus on nothing but the music. Take some time for yourself and really listen to every tiny part of the song. Listen to the lyrics, the instruments, the undertones. Focus on nothing else. Before you know it, your mind will be totally at peace. Simple right?
- Write.
- Keep a journal. It will literally make you smarter. Every day, designate time to pouring out all your thoughts onto paper. Don't organize them. Don't edit yourself. Just write. Write about class, or a cute guy, or what you ate that morning. When you feel like you have nothing left to write, take a deep breath and let mindfulness take over. Then begin to write from your soul.
- Take a Walk.
- It doesn't count if you're in a rush. Designate a period of time to walk around and focus on your breathing. Pay attention to the way your body moves and empty your mind of everything else
- Take a Nap.
- You can go ahead and fall asleep, but you don't have too. Curl up in the covers and let your troubles float away. Focus on your breathing and whatever little sounds may be floating around you. Let them drift past your consciousness and experience some peace.
- Breathe
- Breathe in and breathe out 100 times, seriously. Focus on filling up your entire lung space on the inhale and emptying them completely on the exhale. Do it mindfully or you'll get lightheaded. Breathing is the easiest and most basic way to meditate. Try this whenever you begin to feel anxious and you'll feel relaxed in no time.
Remember not to feel bad if you're not great at it in the beginning. Like everything else, it takes some practice. But be proud of yourself for every attempt by remembering that you're doing something good for your mind, body and spirit. You'll thank yourself for it even more later on.
Namaste friends!
