Taking a mindful moment

On my way to school on Monday morning, I followed my usual routine. I hopped on the streetcar with my backpack in tow and my mind racing, thinking about an assignment due later in the week, my schedule, my readings and how on earth I would find the time to get everything done.

I was feeling particularly stressed, so I decided to try out the Mindful Moments program with a friend. Mindful Moments are free meditation and yoga classes offered on campus. I didn’t really think it would work for me but I figured that, at worst, it would force me to take a break from working.

We then did a practice in mindful eating, where the counselor leading the session guided us through eating a snack slowly and thoughtfully, noticing its texture, smell, and taste. After some reflection, we ended the session with a meditation practice where we sat in silence as the counsellor gave us instructions on paying attention to our breath and our bodies.

I realized from the class that I rush through a lot of my day because I’m stressed about getting work done, and I’m always thinking about my schedule – what I have to do the next day and the day after that.

What I learned is to try to actively engage with moments in my day. Rather than use my walk from the Koffler Centre to Robarts as a time to stress, I’m now trying to look around and notice things. My friend who came with me to the class pointed out, for example, that everyone seems a little more oriented and relaxed on campus this week.

On Tuesday before class, I got up for an early morning breakfast. I took my time with my coffee, appreciating each sip, and I focused on the experience rather than on the day ahead. I got to school feeling alert and clear-headed and I noticed that I was feeling just a bit better about getting my work done now that I was fixating on it less.

It’s normal to feel stressed about school and about our lives. The counselor was quick to remind us that a bit of stress is healthy – we’re in university, so of course we are being challenged every day! But mindfulness is a really simple practice that can make a huge difference, even in small doses: just breathe, look around you, and pay attention while you do it. When I was doing my work and started to feel myself begin to feel overwhelmed, I closed my eyes and took a deep, focused breath and I pushed on with a level head.

Want to go to a Mindful Moment? Check out the schedule at this link.

Got questions about mindfulness, or want to chat about coping with stress? Talk to me in the comments below!