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Tip of the Month: Bring Some Mindfulness to Your March

Mindfulness has become a big buzzword in recent years, but you may be wondering what exactly it is and why you should practice it. Mindfulness is the act of training our brain to stay present in the moment, allowing us to be more in tune with ourselves and everything around us. One of the best things about this practice is that it can be done in so many different forms. Discover ways to bring mindfulness into your life!

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Benefits of Practicing Mindfulness 

Mindfulness keeps the focus on the now rather than our regrets from the past or worries for the future, giving us the capacity to better understand our needs, and tend to ourselves and others. Think about being more aware of your emotions, attentive in conversations with your friends, or appreciating the beauty of the world around you. Additional benefits include stress reduction, increased relaxation, improved concentration, increased happiness, and more!

5 Ways to Practice Mindfulness 

  1. Meditation. This practice allows us to become aware of our uncomfortable or distracting thoughts, and gently bring our attention back to the present moment, preventing rumination over them. Start small by doing meditations that last 1-5 minutes to get in the habit. To get started, check out: 
  2. Yoga. Yoga is a great opportunity to practice mindfulness in motion, helping connect you to your body and breath in the moment. If you are looking for ways to get more active, yoga is a great opportunity to do that while building your mindfulness muscles! 
    • Queer Yoga: Join the Weiland Health Initiative, Well-Being, and YogaX in a queer community space of movement, group discussion and reflection time focused on yoga and life beyond.
    • ORSL Yoga and Guided Meditation: Check out weekly opportunities at the CIRCLE to engage with others in the community for meditation and yoga. 
  3. Walking. Every time you walk to class or work is an opportunity to be mindful– to see your surroundings, to hear what is going on around you, and to catch yourself in thought. You can also engage in guided mindful walking where you slowly move through a guided path– the Labyrinth at Memorial Church is great for this!
  4. Nature. Nature has a way of calming the mind. Its beauty helps to stimulate the senses, reminding you to be present where you are. Consider taking a walk around the Dish, basking in the sunlight at an outdoor spot on campus, going to the beach, or finding a new hiking spot in the area. Spend time discovering the power of the great outdoors! 
  5. EVERYTHING! Mindfulness is a muscle that you can exercise all the time! In whatever you are doing, you can practice presence. By bringing your attention to the present, you provide yourself with a gentle acceptance of what you are experiencing at the moment. 

As you embark on your mindful journey, be open and curious, giving each mindful practice a try until you find one(s) that work for you; be patient, as it will take time to get into the habit. Remember, you may not be zen at all times or escape your thoughts or feelings, but at least you now have a tool to help you bring nonjudgmental awareness to those things.

Written by: Cherrial Odell, Class of 2025

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Resources

Stanford Resources

Additional Resources

  • Take a Mindfulness Quiz! This quick quiz will help you learn more about what mindfulness is, how much you currently practice it, and how you can promote more of it in your life. Greater Good Magazine