Meditation for Better Studies and a Better Life

As a university student, your mind is probably constantly a-buzz with a thousand different things to remember. Remember to check the calendar daily so that no assignments sneak up on you (there’s one due in a week!), remember to read three chapters of that textbook before Monday (was it three or four?), don’t forget to revise last week’s work before the quiz on Friday (there’s a quiz on Friday?!). The list feels endless. At times it might feel like your head is going to explode from all the buzzing! In these moments it’s important to be able to take a deep breath and let the buzzing fade away - even if just for a while.

One way to do this is with meditation. Now, some of you might already be groaning internally at the word, but stay with me. For those that don’t know, meditation is a way to train your mind, your awareness and attention through the use of different techniques, in order to achieve more control over your state of mind and your emotions. One type of meditation that’s becoming increasingly popular in the West is mindfulness meditation. This involves focusing on the breath and being aware of the emotions and physical sensations you’re experiencing in the moment, without dwelling on them or judging them.

There are more and more scientific studies being conducted every year that are revealing the multitude of benefits, mental and physical, of meditation. Some of the most common science-backed reasons why people try meditation are to reduce stress and improve concentration, which makes it a great practice to pick up not only for students, but everyone else as well. It can help reduce depression and anxiety, improve attention span and memory, help you sleep and cope with pain - the list goes on. Meditation promotes emotional health, as it can lead to an improved self-image and a more positive attitude in life. It can also make you into a better and kinder person by improving your patience and self-awareness, helping you treat other people (and yourself!) a lot better.

In this age of technology and social media (not to mention a pandemic), people have worse mental health than ever; we’re constantly anxious and stressed. But there are ways to combat this, or at least take the edge off. If meditation sounds strange and foreign to you, I invite you to take a chance and try it out. Below are a few links to get you started, but don’t be afraid to jump in and do your own research. The internet is full of great (and free) resources, explanations, guided meditations, videos, podcasts, and more!

Meditation for Beginners: 20 Practical Tips for Understanding the Mind

12 Science-Based Benefits of Meditation

An introduction to mindfulness and meditation, plus free guided meditations audios.

Headspace - “A guide to mindfulness for your everyday life. Choose from hundreds of guided meditations on everything from managing stress and anxiety to sleep, focus, and mind-body health.”

 

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