Finals season might just be the most stressful time of the year. If you’re an AP/IB student, you’re probably still catching your breath from the last barrage of exams. Now, Regents and finals are just a few weeks away and you may already be feeling the squeeze.
One stress reduction method that is often overlooked is meditation. I know it seems sort of silly to just sit around with your eyes closed, however, meditation has many proven benefits.
There are many different ways to meditate. A kind of meditation I like is body-scan meditation. You think about how you feel from head to toe, slowly relaxing your muscles.
There are also guided meditations you can find online. Simply put on some headphones and listen to an instructor’s voice.
If you are more athletic, you might like to do some meditative yoga. These slow movements are great for waking you up or winding down. On YouTube, there are plenty of tutorials.
Some people complain about how it is hard to find the time to meditate throughout the day, so I recommend taking advantage of any extra time that you have. Putting meditation breaks in between blocks of studying can be beneficial. Set timers, work for an hour, and meditate for twenty minutes. Instead of taking a phone break, try some deep breathing. You’re less likely to get distracted than if you scrolled on social media.
Another easy way to fit meditation into your daily routine is to do it before or after sleeping. I like to play Lofi music or nature sounds to help me sleep, and these audios are the perfect meditative backdrop.
In short, meditation is an easy way to improve your mood. Meditation can only take 10-20 minutes of your day and it can help you destress and feel better during such a hectic time.
