Don't lose your head...
As we move into our study period for finals, it’s important to keep a strong practice, even when you think that your schedule is “too busy” for any kind of meditation. In fact, taking a break to just sit quietly can give your tired brain a rest, and help you stay productive. Studying may not seem like a physically demanding activity, but there is a reason we get so tired after spending hours poring over our notes!
So take a break every once and a while. Give yourself regular intervals if you’re going to be in the library all day. Every hour, take five. Or better yet, take ten to fifteen minutes and don’t look at your notes, don’t do anything–just sit still (but comfortably) and follow your breath. In, one. Out, two. All the way up to ten. Then start over. This will allow your mind to settle and digest all that information you’re stuffing into it. Set a timer for yourself–this is your time. If you stick with it, throughout the day you’ll find you’re more efficient and productive, and spending less time getting distracted with things you shouldn’t be doing, like going through other peoples’ Facebooks when you should be focusing on your schoolwork!
Most importantly, don’t stress out over your studies, and get plenty of sleep! A stressed-out, whacked-out, drained and sleep-deprived brain does poorly when it comes to absorbing and recalling information. Especially when compared to a relaxed, calm, well-rested brain. Put two people who meet those two descriptions in the same exam with the same amount of preparation and study time before hand, and guess who comes out with the higher grade?
Don’t sweat those exams, and keep meditating regularly on your own time and you’ll find that you’re more attuned to what your body needs to be at it’s highest performance level. Put it all down and just DO it!
