Taking a quick breath and remembering to stay mindful is so important to be as productive as possible. Furthermore, it will help reach the best version of yourself. Here are some of the ways I recommend to help achieve mindfulness this fall!
1. Journal
Journaling can take some time to get into, but once you’ve made it a habit, it is so rewarding. I have been regularly journaling for six years now. Something I have found helpful is the journaling prompts that are available online. These can be as general or as specific as you’d like, and they’re a nice way to get your pen moving without much thought. For me, journaling has become a way to unload all of the things in my head at the end of the day. Picking out new, cute journals is a weakness of mine :)
2. Check in with your body
Make an effort to check in with your body through the day. If you’re like me, you spend a lot of your day hunched over, typing into a laptop. Sometimes I stop and notice how rigid my posture is, how much tension I am holding in my neck and shoulders. By the end of the day my whole body is aching. While I walk back from class I’ll scan my body and notice where I am holding tension, seeing if there is any part of my body I can relax a little more. It’s a small change, but at the end of the day your body might feel a big difference.
3. Meditate
Meditating does not have to mean sitting with your legs crossed, eyes closed, chanting “om”. It can be like that, of course, but there are so many other ways to meditate that you may not even know exist. One form of meditation that I find extremely cathartic is walking meditation. Walking meditation is just what it sounds like: mindfully walking. Take a moment to tune into all of your senses as you walk. What sounds do you hear? How does the air feel against your skin? How does your body feel? Walking meditation is a functional, active way to check in with yourself and your surroundings. You can implement a walking meditation into your trip to-and-from classes, during a run to the grocery store, or a walk down the street.
4. Go to bed 10 minutes earlier
I know this is easier said than done. And what difference will 10 minutes make?
Something I’ve been working on is leaving myself 10 or 15 minutes before bed, putting my phone away, and giving myself a moment to slow down and think about my day without distractions. One day I hope to implement a nightly meditation, but I’ll admit I have a ways to go.
5. Try yoga
As an avid yogi and teacher, I may be a bit biased, but I think yoga is one of the best ways to be mindful. If your school offers yoga classes on campus, grab a friend to check out a class! Or go by yourself! On campus classes are such a treat because there are very few places you can take a free class outside of college. I began taking classes on campus, my freshman year, and I found that it really helped me decompress after stressful days of classes. I met people in different classes who I began to see regularly and stayed in touch with. The gym is a whole new place to meet people, and I found that yoga classes are such a positive environment to surround yourself with genuine people.
The fall can be a stressful time as classes begin picking up and the days get shorter. Just remember that you have the power to see things in a brighter, more mindful light. You’ve got this!