Breath is the beginning and end to every person’s day. Yet, catching one’s breath can feel especially difficult with academic and social pressures building in the spring semester. Even as life feels like it’s moving at an uncatchable pace, the habits best suited to relaxing one’s mental state can help force a pause. Only then can a person move past stress and regain control.
Building these practices can begin from the moment you wake up. “Every day I get in my email inbox [an] inspirational quote from the Grateful Living network,” explains Dr. Matt Juelsgaard, a Religious Studies teacher. Pausing to read small quotes or stories of good deeds reminds us to practice gratitude, affirming the benefits of a positive mindset.
Juelsgaard proposes the question, “What can I do to consciously encounter inspiration?” Such a question can be difficult to answer when news outlets are often filled with conflict, harboring disagreement and an impending sense of doom.
“Before I turn on the radio and dive into all that… I will often try to just have some quiet time in the car just to get settled,” and “be present to…what’s going on,” said Mr. Bryan Lorentz, a Religious Studies teacher.
Letting go of the desire to distract oneself with music, podcasts, etc., on the way to school can provide the time to reflect on current events— in your life or globally— that have left you feeling stuck. “That space… allows me to be more present and more engaged,” said Lorentz.
Physical movement can also open up space for meditative thought, especially after a long school day sitting in the classroom. “It could look like a walk in nature… or it could look like going on a trampoline,” said Ms. Alicia Casali, a School Counselor, “For me, it’s so that I can hear certain sounds or feel certain things for my senses to be engaged.”
Being in tune with our physical state provides insight into our mental state. So, when you’re stressed, stand and stretch for a second, release that tension, and your energy levels will improve.
Even on the busiest of days, a quick five-minute reset can truly transform your mindset. “Find a room by yourself, seat yourself,… close your eyes,” explained Mr. Ben Hunter, a Social Science teacher, “Start focusing on your body, about the sensations, hearing things,… and then focus on the experience of breathing through your nose, and just stay there for five minutes.”
The simplicity of each exercise is the root of its benefits. They break us away from the hectic lives we live and force us to make room for our own thoughts. Finding joy in this space is a way to relax during this stressful school year.
