1. Mindfulness Mediation
I know you are probably imagining something similar to a Buddha sitting crisscross applesauce in a peaceful garden methodically "humming" to the beat of his breath. Well, I can tell you meditation does not have to look like this and it is actually easy to at school, work, in the shower, whenever you have a few minutes to yourself. Personally, I use the app "10% Happier" every night as I am falling asleep. This app has hundreds of episodes similar to a podcast that are made by meditation teachers across the globe and they range from 3-20 minutes long on average. What I enjoy most about this mediation is the way the speaker leads the listener through the mediation through simple commands that position you physically and mentally for a calm mindset.
Some of my favorite go-to episodes:
- "Letting Stress Settle" Cory Muscara
- "The Present Moment" Sebane Selassie
- "Falling Asleep" Alexis Santos
2. Organize and Anticipate- Planner
Whether you or creative or not, planning or journaling in a planner or calendar of some sort can help you organize your thoughts for the week. Each Sunday, I sit in bed and write down my work schedule, any assignments that will be due or tests and quizzes upcoming, and any events to plan for. This week was very full to say the least. Between reading assignments due for English class and scheduling in getting my nails done for Prom, my planner is decked out to the hour on some days. Planners are huge trend amongst a wide range of people and especially high school and college age students. Here are some creative ideas and ways to make a busy week something to look forward to and not dread...
These are some of my favorite brands of planners...you can buy online or often found sold at some boutiques!
- Ban.do, $20-$30
- Lilly Pultizer, $25-$28
- Kate Spade, $20-$30
3. Getting to Bed *Early*
I know sleep is either hard to make time for or lame to "go to bed early", but actually your body and your mind will love you for it. I have recently been listening to my body and setting an alarm for around 9:30 every night, which is a reminder for me to stop whatever I'm working on and get ready for bed or go to bed if it is a light night. Granted, I do wake up fairly early in the morning so you can adjust your bedtime as needed, but doctors do recommend a full eight hours of sleep every night if you can. I have recently been using the simple Bedtime setting under the standard Clock app that comes with Apple phones. This keeps track of my sleep cycle and tells me how many hours of sleep I will get based off when I go to sleep and wake up. Also, waking up when your alarm rings and resisting the urge to hit snooze will leave you feeling less groggy and get your mind in the right place for the rest of the day.
So I may not be a doctor, but from one stressed girl to another, I hope these tips help relieve a little bit of your burden and keep your mind, body, and heart healthy...
Until next time XOXO,
Grace
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