Surviving The College Crunch: 3 Mindful Steps to Roll With The College Application Process

As a high school senior, you’re swamped with college application deadlines, SAT prep, and school work. Honestly, this will probably be the most stressful time in your life – that is, until you search for a job or plan a wedding.

Luckily, mindfulness is a revolutionary practice you can use to thrive amidst the stress. Mindfulness is the process of becoming aware of each moment with a curious, nonjudgmental attitude and then responding to it with compassion. Over 25 years of scientific research shows that mindfulness reduces stress and boosts the immune system – all while making you happier! You can practice this revolutionary skill in the following ways during this stressful time.

Step 1: Find a quiet, secluded spot where you feel safe and can simply breathe without worrying about any distractions.
Step 2: Choose an activity that resonates with your skills, interests, and learning styles. For example, if you are an auditory learner, create a youtube playlist of songs you find relaxing. Before you begin, decide which instrument you will focus on and keep redirecting your attention back to it throughout the song.
Step 3: For maximum results, aim for about 20-30 minutes of mindfulness practice a day (they need not be consecutive; for example, listen to a different 5-minute song once every few hours).

​Remember, it’s not so much what you do as the mindful way in which you do it. The trick is to gently keep bringing your awareness back to the activity at hand whenever your awareness wanders. Best of luck and here’s to dozens of acceptance letters!