As the semester is getting busier and midterms are on the horizon, we all know the stress and sense of anxiety surrounding getting everything done and getting the grades that we want. While school is obviously very important, focusing too much on doing well in school can drain you to the point of being able to do nothing at all. This is why having hobbies and other times to not focus on school is so important. By having something to help you unwind and/or something productive to do that makes you happy, your performance in class will be even better.

This is a problem that I definitely struggle with, and probably other students on campus do as well. We become so focused on and obsessed with what we need to get done that we constantly feel overwhelmed. Even taking a break feels like we are breaking the rules, wasting precious time. While we all know the importance of relaxation in balance with school work, we never seem to apply that principle to our own lives. Somehow, we feel we don’t deserve a break or time away from school.

Practicing mindfulness is key to keeping your sanity during a busy or stressful period of time in your life, or even every day. According to Psychology Today, mindfulness can be defined as “the self-regulation of attention with an attitude of curiosity, openness, and acceptance.” You simply stay mindful of your feelings, recognize them without judgment, and work towards self-acceptance.

The school-all-the-time attitude can become toxic and unhealthy. If we never take time to do productive and relaxing things only for ourselves, then both our mental health and school performance suffers. Even taking just a few hours out of your week to do something for yourself will help to rejuvenate you. Take, for example, yoga. I take one hour to focus on my well-being and health. You wouldn’t believe how much better just practicing one hour a week of mindfulness can change your life for the better. On weeks that I don’t go to yoga, a few of my friends go to swim for an hour or two. It’s fun, social, and relaxing.

There are obviously countless other things that you could use to be mindful of your mental health and wellbeing such as a non-demanding club, going on a coffee date with a friend, or taking time to watch an episode of your favorite TV show. Anything that will give you a small break from school will benefit your health enormously.

Perhaps even in class you suddenly become overwhelmed by all the assignments that your professor is listing off that are due soon. If you are even too busy to take an hour to do something for yourself, sitting down and focusing on yourself and your well-being for five minutes can help you to feel better.

If are unsure on how to go about practicing mindfulness or meditation, there are countless resources and even apps that can help you get started.

If you were simply to take a little time to search, there are so many options both on campus, and online to help you feel happy and a bit less stressed. While getting into the habit of practicing mindfulness may prove to be difficult at first, each time you do it you will feel better. And don’t beat yourself up if you realized that you haven’t taken any time for yourself like you wanted or have negative thoughts. No one is perfect, and the fact that you are trying is all that matters in the end.

So next time you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed about school, or really anything in your life, consider taking some time for yourself and practicing a bit of mindfulness. Continuously making these things a habit will improve your mental health over time and help you to better manage your stress in the future. Eventually, whatever neagtive period in your life that you are experiencing will pass.Spring is on its way both outside and in your mental health.