Stress is one of the challenges that students battle. Several things going on in students’ lives can be the source of stress. Be it family, the stress of potential unemployment after completing school, academic performance, peer pressure, social anxiety, or even inadequate sleep.
While most people may ignore it, stress can cause health issues for students. If not addressed, stress could lead to anxiety and depression, which will affect students’ well-being.
4 Ways Mindfulness Can Empower Students
Mindfulness or spirituality practices are a good remedy for stress among students. The practice will bring the student to the present moment. Being in the present enhances your focus and eliminates the daily stressors.
The practice is useful for students as they lead high-pressure lives; here are some of its benefits.
1. Reduced stress and anxiety and warding depression
Students fall into depression if their stress and anxiety are not addressed. Incomplete assignments and approaching exams can cause significant stress to the students. Continually worrying about their capabilities can also lead to stress.
Mindfulness allows students to acknowledge that there is all this pressure but not focus too much on it. By practicing mindfulness, students can take their minds off past and future stressors, putting them in a position to effectively deal with what is present.
Instead of having anxiety about their workload, a student will order essay by EssayService and get support in completing it. Students make better decisions and manage issues better when their minds are clear.
2. Improved cognitive performance
Students need cognitive skills to be able to understand topics and subjects. Students’ cognition should be in good shape for them to learn, plan, solve problems, recall and even think.
Stress can affect the brain, and consequently, their cognitive performance. Stress can cause the brain’s amygdala grey matter to become smaller. This often results in negative emotions. The grey matter of the brain becomes thicker after practicing mindfulness, enhancing the cognition of the students.
When the grey matter of the prefrontal cortex thickens, the students can control their emotions and think through matters. This results in better planning, thinking, and problem-solving.
3. Improved memory
Students need to understand concepts in class and hold the information long enough to use it in the exams. A good memory also enhances the concentration of the students.
Practicing mindfulness and spirituality has benefits for students’ memory. Functioning memory is characterized by active listening, focus, and concentration. Mindfulness allows you to concentrate on what is in the present.
Therefore, students can focus on what is happening in the classroom and concentrate on what the teacher says. They can take in information effectively, making it easy to recall. Information retention shows that a student has grasped concepts.
Students rely on memory in their exams, and improvement in it leads to improved classroom performance.
4. Better Physical health
Health affects students’ performance. Students learn optimally when their health is stable. If they are ill, they cannot stay in class long enough to get information.
Poor health can affect the concentration of a student and make them struggle with learning.
Practicing mindfulness can substantially improve the health of students. It eliminates the risk of developing heart problems. Students that practice mindfulness also have lower blood pressure, less stress, and also avoid gastrointestinal complications.
With stable physical health, students can make it to class, concentrate, and hold on to the information they get from their teachers. By practicing mindfulness, students are therefore able to learn optimally.
How to Practice Mindfulness Daily
Practicing mindfulness every day can improve your well-being. Integrate the following practices into your daily routine.
1. Take a walk
Taking a walk is a good mindfulness practice. Pick a quiet and serene spot to walk. It could be a park or a path with no activity. Focus all your senses on walking and start strolling. Focus on how your movement feels and on your balance.
Doing the exercise every day will take your mind away from the daily stressors.
2. Meditate
Sitting meditation is a great mindfulness practice. All you have to do is spread a yoga mat on your floor. Sit flat on it, keeping your back straight and hands on your lap. In this posture, start breathing slowly, being in touch with the air that comes in and out of your body.
You will realize that your focus will shift to breathing.
Do this by paying attention to your senses, be it touch, taste, or smell. Live in the moment by finding pleasure in the simple things. It could be breakfast, your favorite show, or even wearing your favorite shoes.
Conclusion
Students live in a high-pressure environment, and they are very likely to get stressed. Practicing mindfulness will go a long way in warding off stress, preventing depression, and improving their physical health.
With their overall wellbeing intact, their concentration and focus improve, enhancing their academic performance. Practicing mindfulness can be as simple as appreciating small wins or taking a walk in a silent path.
Make mindfulness and spirituality part of your day’s activities for a wholesome and stress-free life.
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