April 5, 2021
All About the Mind
It always takes a while to get back into the grind after coming back from the relaxation time that is Spring Break. And with coming back comes the stress of continuing homework and preparations for upcoming finals. We compiled some things that should help you out as you get back into the groove.
Gratitude Pages: Gratitude pages are a great thing both when you’re creating them and after they’re finished. One page idea is a list of everything that you are grateful for, appreciative of, and that makes you feel happy. The second is a compliments list, which is just a list of the compliments you may receive. Both are nice to hang up or to look upon when you are feeling down or stressed. They can remind you of the good things in life and that there are things to keep pushing forward and fighting for.
See the images included here for some ideas of things to include and some basic layouts if you wish to give this a try. And I shall also give you your first compliment on the second image!
Ideas for Grateful List:
- Family/Guardians/Friends/Teachers/etc.
- Pets
- Favorite foods/drinks
- Seasons
- Hobbies
- Weather
- Smells
- Breaks
- Being you!
Meditation Apps
For something that’s supposed to calm you and leave you feeling relaxed, meditation can be kind of taxing sometimes. Soon you’ll realize that you’ve given up on meditating and have put on another episode of your favorite TV show. Meditation is supposed to help reduce stress, control anxiety, generate kindness, and improve sleep. So, how do you finally buckle down and do it? There is a simple solution: apps. Meditation apps are a great complement to a mindfulness practice as they help you meditate anytime, anywhere, putting the power of mindfulness meditation in the palm of your hand.
So, what apps are recommended for finding your meditation groove? Here you’ll find your leading choices, as well as why each one might work best for you. All of the apps below are available on the Apple Store and Google Play.
- Headspace: One of the most well-known meditation apps out there, and great for beginners. Cost: $7.99 to $12.99 per month after trial.
- Calm: The #1 app for sleep and meditation. Cost: Free, though there is a paid version with additional content.
- Insight Timer: This app has many of the most experienced mindfulness teachers on it, and allows you the freedom to pick and choose depending on how long you have to practice. Cost: Free.
- Aura: Fans of Aura like it for its daily meditations, life coaching, nature sounds, stories, and music, which are all personalized based on the mood you select when you open the app. Cost: Free.
Cultivate Mindfulness
Sometimes, we just need to sit down and enter into some mindfulness. Mindfulness is a practice that came out of Buddhism but has now entered the mainstream. It’s when you focus on what you are sensing and feeling. According to the American Psychological Association, the benefits of mindfulness include stress reduction, a boost to memory and focus, and more.
Below is a list of activities you could do to cultivate mindfulness.
- Sit down and actually enjoy your food. Take time to taste every bite instead of rushing through your meal.
- Grab a coloring book and take a break to color. Focus on the color going on the paper, how the pencil or marker feels in your hand, etc.
- Go outside and enjoy nature. Take a walk on the trail and listen to the sounds around you. It’s relaxing to hear the wind blowing through the trees and the birds chirping in the distance.
- Take time to focus on your breathing. Download an app to follow. Bruce mentions a bunch in his meditation article this issue (above). If you don’t want to download an app, you could try taking time to count your breaths every so often throughout the day.
- Make time for writing. Check out Jasmine’s article in this issue on gratitude pages, which may help you be more mindful about the good things in your life. Writing can also help you get out feeling that you may have been holding in.