Meditation Can Help College Students Cope With Stress

Your Guide to a Fulfilling College Experience

College can be a stressful time for many individuals, with the sudden increase in responsibilities and change in schedule. Trying to juggle school and work while still making time for a social life may take a toll on students' mental health. Although stress is a normal part of the college experience, there are several ways we can decrease this uneasy feeling. A perfect way to begin is with some simple meditation.

While this may sound too good to be true, meditation is scientifically proven to reduce stress. A 2018 study conducted by the Headspace app concluded that individuals who practiced meditation over 10 days were shown to experience a decrease in stress by up to 14%. Furthermore, this practice may help individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, and insomnia. 

So what is meditation? 

Meditation is used to help individuals work with their minds in raising awareness of their inner thoughts and perspectives. This practice aims to recognize what goes through one's head without any negativity and judgment. Meditation begins with focusing on a bodily sensation such as breath and pushing any distractions out of one's mind. This helps us work on self-discipline and discover a new sense of presence.

The beautiful thing about meditation is that it can be done anywhere at any time; all you need is yourself. While implementing a new routine may be difficult for many, there are often resources and guidance to begin. As students at a community college or University, we are often blessed with the opportunity to take free on-campus meditation classes. So next time you feel overwhelmed, set aside some time to try out this tradition; because as crazy as it may seem, these few minutes out of your day can truly change your outlook on life.