Practising mindfulness sounds straightforward until you actually attempt to do it and you find yourself left with a spiral of existential questions: What am I doing? When am I supposed to do it? How do I know if I’m doing it right? All valid queries, but ones that hold a plethora of different methods, preferences, and outcomes to explore. Generally, mindfulness involves being present and engaged in the moment, creating awareness of your thoughts and feelings without distraction. While being mindful is ideally practised in daily life, many people find that mindfulness meditation helps them formulate a routine, or can act as a full stop from the stressors of a day.
Enter Headspace, an app that combines tools for meditation, sleep, movement, and focus. I turned to Headspace when I was curious about the benefits of meditation, and ended up loving the app for its guided sleepcasts and morning meditations. It also offers monthly wellbeing check-ins, which I admittedly scoffed at at first, thinking my journaling already sufficed, but came to love as a space dedicated solely to my mental wellbeing and progress. Wellness deserves to take up its own mental space, and using Headspace has helped me to give the proper recognition to mindfulness and taking time out of my day to simply be.
The app’s guided meditations range in length from anywhere between 1 and 120 minutes, so whether you’re dedicating an afternoon or just a minute when you wake up, there’s something for everyone. I find the morning meditations particularly satisfying; that quiet time before your to-do list takes over is made more impactful when you add a short meditation into the mix. A common misconception about meditation, which I believe Headspace does a lovely job of reminding us, is that you have to leave feeling changed, reborn, and in tune with some higher power. While some people may feel that way, meditation can be as simple as sitting still, coming back to your breath, and closing your eyes. Nothing more, nothing less.
Another great option is the 10 Percent Happier app, where experts like the Dalai Lama coach and lead short, once-daily meditations. Both apps have several free-trial options and must be purchased to unlock all of their tools. Price aside, I personally find Headspace to be an investment in my mental health and physical wellbeing — fitness can be applied to both the mind and body, working in tandem to cultivate the best version of yourself. Meditation offers a moment of mental space that even our favourite relaxing activities cannot provide. It sounds like the world’s easiest task, but thinking about nothing actually takes quite a bit of practice!
It is true that “mindfulness” has lost some of its meaning in today’s day and age, a modern buzzword that has been applied to everything from granola bars to pants. But the root of the practice—taking a moment to listen to your mind and body—transcends mere trends. A more physical manifestation of wellness could come in the form of practicing yoga. Taking one of YogiSoc’s yoga classes in the Union is a great option—they often offer free classes, but you can purchase class packs and try out a variety of classes, from Power to Hatha to guided meditation. In speaking to one of YogiSoc’s teachers, Emma Van Peenen, about how yoga has impacted her wellbeing, I was reminded of how such a quiet task can actually be incredibly energising. “Yoga and meditation are a practice of mindfulness that aims to ‘control the modifications of the mind’”, Emma explains, “My practice has helped me with both motivation and concentration; I find that even a 15-30 minute practice of yoga or meditation boosts my energy for the rest of the day.” It’s a great reminder that results come in many shapes and forms, giving you the ability to tailor your practice to what you feel you need in that moment.
As university students, most of us find ourselves in a cycle of coffees, classes, extracurriculars, and nights out. By the time we reach home in the evenings, or perhaps late at night, the last thing we want to do is sit and reflect on our thoughts, opting instead to turn on a movie or scroll for an hour (or two). And that’s fine! But there are so many in between moments in our day that, while not conducive to meditation, can still be used productively. Consider listening to podcasts like “On Being” and “10 Percent Happier with Dan Harris”, while on your weekly grocery shop, or on the way to class. There is an incredible roster of wellness podcasts to choose from, educating you on everything from the science behind the brain’s chemical production to how to protect your mental wellbeing online.
In a culture that disproportionately values busyness and a packed schedule, prioritising moments of mental peace and quiet has never been more essential. Finding ways to simultaneously calm and energise your mind in high-stress environments is just as important a skill as properly citing your papers. Of course, you don’t need an app (or the Dalai Lama) in order to practice mindfulness. But if it can be a tool for self-improvement, or give you a little push in the direction of mindfulness, it will most certainly be worth it