Be in the Present

When you're sitting in class or you're at work, what are you thinking? I can tell you that I'm usually either thinking, "What should I eat for lunch?" or "What show should I watch when I get home today?"

We're always thinking about what to do next or about something that's happened already. It's hard for many of us to really be present in the moment and we don't even realize it. When you're thinking, "Wow, I'm really happy my boyfriend texted me this morning" while you're folding shirts at your job at H&M, you're not truly present. You are in the past.

When you're in the past or the future, you're missing out on what's happening right in front of you. If you're at work, the consequence of being in your thoughts or "zoning out" may be missing important instructions from your manager.

There are ways you can stay present in the moment and avoid wandering off mentally. That is through meditation and mindfulness.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the state of being conscious or aware of something.

Here are some mindfulness exercises you can practice to stay present:

Name five things you hear, see, smell, taste, and feel
Set an alarm at a specific time to remind yourself to be present
Look for an object to ground you, such as a bird in the sky. View it as a reminder to be present
Yoga is a practice in which you must be mindful of your movements

Meditation

Meditation is training the mind to be in a relaxed state. It is a form of mindfulness.

There are many benefits of meditation:

Brings us into the present moment
Relaxes us
Relieves stress
Helps us refocus

There are also different ways to meditate:

With eyes opened or closed, inhale for 5 seconds and exhale for 7 seconds. This is called square breathing.
Listen to music
Take walks
Aromatherapy; smelling something that is pleasing to the senses such as lavender, which is known to soothe anxiety

If you need any more tips on staying present or relieving stress, visit the Wellness Center at D-102!

-Amanda Blando

Comments

How to Budget in College and Why it Matters

College is often the first time students manage their own money and it can get overwhelming fast. Between textbooks, food, tuition, and social events, its easy to overspend without realizing it. But learning to budget in college doesnt mean giving up everything fun. Instead its about being intentional with your spending so you can avoid stress, debt, and financial mistakes down the line. Budgeting isnt just about cutting back its a form of freedom. It helps you make the most of your money and take control of your future. Whether your living on campus, commuting, or juggling a part time job, a solid budget is your best friend. Tips on Budgeting in College Track Every Dollar: Use personal finance apps to track spending, categorize expenses, and set goals. These apps help you see where your money goes so you can make smarter decisions. Create a Monthly Budget: Use simple, user friendly budgeting tools. This allows you to plan for every dollar you have coming in and going out. Separate N...

DEI & The Workplace

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), is a broad term that covers the issues of equality in the United States. It existed throughout the years, trying to advocate for equality amongst individuals regardless of their race, sex, or religion. Thi helps foster respect and equality in every sector of the society, ensuring that as long as a person is a citizen of the United States, they are allowed to receive the same benefits as others. In the workplace, DEI is very essential as it ensures that people are hired based on the fact that they meet the qualifications of the position they applied for, and not discriminated against by not qualifying them for unknown reasons even if they reach all other qualifications. Below are a few important reasons for DEI in the workplace: 1. The Workplace Should Reflect Today’s Emerging Workforce: Social change has historically often led to backlash, but that isn’t necessarily a good reason to retreat or pivot away from one’s DEI mandate. Today’s emerg...

Thinking About an Internship?

Internships offer students valuable opportunities to gain hands-on experience in their field of interest or area of study. Through an internship, you can develop new skills, deepen your understanding of the industry, experience real-world work environments, and build a professional network. Internships can also help you clarify your career goals, explore different career paths, and even increase your chances of securing a job offer after graduation. TIPS for during the Internship: Be Proactive: It can help you enhance your experience and it could help lead to stronger connections, and more learning opportunities. Be Professional: It could help make a strong first impression, help build connections, boosts career prospects and it could help you standout. Stay Organized: It can help boost productivity, improve on your time management, portfolio development, and enhanced proffesionalism. Network: It could help you build connections with proffesionals in your field. It could also help ...

Search This Blog