The Fact:
38% of incoming students frequently feel overwhelmed, women more so than men.
[From: Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP)]
First Aid For When You Feel Overwhelmed:
Step 1:
Find a comfortable position sitting in a chair, on floor or on lawn.
Step 2:
Listen to all the sounds around you for a minute.
Step 3:
Focus on your breath as it moves in and out of your nostrils with your mouth and eyes closed (2-3 minutes or longer)
Step 4:
If you have thoughts arising acknowledge these and let them go and bring our attention back to your breath.
Step 5:
Slowly open your eyes and deeply breathe in through your nose, out through your mouth. Repeat three times.
Practical Tips:
- If you don’t see changes right away, remember it takes consistent practice to change a habit.
- Use Mindful Breath Meditation Practice every day and also be aware of your breath throughout the day to combat stress and feeling overwhelmed.
- Do not judge yourself for not being able to focus on your breath for a long time, after all this is a practice to of mindful awareness.
