Meditation For Students

We all have tried to meditate at one point in time, and it doesn't seem like what it is. So many thoughts run through our head like, "Has it been 10 minutes yet!?" or "Why am I doing this?". In fact, there are many things that meditation brings to the table for us and today; we are going to discuss what exactly it does! Let's get right into it.

What is meditation?

Before we get into the details about meditation and its benefits, let us understand what meditation exactly is. "Meditation is a practice in which an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state."- Wikipedia 2023. It might be a lot to take in, but it does drive the point home. Now that you know what mediation is, at least somewhat, let's see how it works. 

Importance of mediation

Students today have a lot of things to do and are constantly stressed out about something. Therefore the importance of meditation for students becomes even more important. It is a proven fact that students' intelligence and creativity increase after practising meditation for 15 minutes twice a day; it also enhances optimism, mental clarity, and attentiveness. Thus the importance of meditation for students, especially in today’s world, is a lot.

How to meditate?

Talking about how to meditate for students, all you require is a mat and some space, and you are ready to meditate. Yup, it is as simple as that; you can meditate sitting down, lying, or moving around; most people sit on a chair or cross-legged on the ground. First and foremost, decide in what way you want to meditate. Then, decide how long you want to meditate for fifteen minutes daily. You can also start with five or ten minutes, but the aim is to start meditating. Keep a target to maintain physical stillness throughout the meditation while mindfully observing any tension. If you choose to meditate while sitting, sit upright in a relaxed position with your head resting on the top of your spine.

Types of meditation

When we talk about meditation for students, we also need to discuss the types of meditation. There are mainly three types of meditation techniques which are:

Breath control

We start with one of the oldest meditation techniques, breath control. This is one of the best techniques for meditation for students; this technique is self-explanatory but for people who are still confused. You need to focus on your breath and try to ground yourself. By doing this, you can stay in the present moment if you continue to focus on your breathing, inhaling and exhaling with each breath. Keep your curiosity about it while not trying to hold your breath. Feel the air hit your nostrils, fill your lungs, and leave again as it flows through you. Many students like this method since it can be done anywhere and anytime.

‍Focused meditation

This is a type of meditation for students. In this technique, you utilise any of the five senses while concentrating is known as focused meditation. For instance, you can concentrate on something internal, such as your breath, or you can bring in outside factors to assist you in concentrating, for instance, gazing intently at the candle's flame (we know it is very cliche).

‍Mindfulness meditation

This is another type of meditation for students in which you focus on your ideas as they move through your mind. You don't evaluate or identify with the thoughts. You merely watch and notice any patterns. This technique combines awareness and concentration. While observing any physiological sensations, thoughts, or feelings, you might find concentrating on anything or your breathing helpful. This meditation technique is the most well-known and extensively studied type of meditation in the West is mindfulness meditation, which has its roots in Buddhist teachings.

Benefits of meditation

When discussing meditation for students, we have to mention all the benefits it brings to the table. It not only improves your mental well-being but physical and spiritual as well. The benefits of meditation for students are both physical and mental, to make you understand in a better way, we have listed a few of them down.

Physical Benefits

The physical benefits that meditation for students brings is are many, and here are a few of them. The physical benefits that meditation for students brings is are many, and here are a few of them.

1) Increases immunological function.
2) Hormone regulation.
3) Reduction in cellular inflammation.
4) Reduces stress and anxiety
5) Improves focus and concentration
6) Increases emotional regulation
7) Lowers blood pressure
8) Improves cardiovascular health
9) Reduces symptoms of depression
10) Reduces chronic pain

Mental Benefits

Meditation for students has a lot of mental benefits, a few of them are obscure, so we have listed down the best mental benefits you will get by meditation for students

1) Reduces cortisol level
2) Helps with sleep deprivation
3) Increases focus
4) Increases emotional well-being and positive mood
5) Improves cognitive function and memory
6) Increases creativity and problem-solving abilities
7) Improves focus and concentration
8) Increases grey matter density in the brain.
9) Improves relationships with others.
10) Increases empathy and compassion

Since meditation helps with managing stress, we want to help you manage it more! So our blog on stress management will surely do the job.

Some tools to help you meditate

There are many resources available to help with meditation for students. It has never been easier to find the right help for your meditation practice. There are a number of apps, books and podcasts, so we have made a list of all the resources you can use to help you meditate better.

Best books for meditation for students

1) Wherever You Go, There You Are-Jon Kabat-Zinn

The book emphasises the benefits of meditation for students and why it is not limited to Zen practitioners and Buddhist monks. It also provides simple advice on how to meditate in everyday life, both formally and informally, as well as techniques to avoid frequent mistakes.

2) ‍Why Can't I Meditate? How to Get Your Mindfulness Practice on Track- Nigel Wellings

It includes advice from a variety of secular and Buddhist mindfulness teachers, as well as first-person accounts from beginning meditators about what they find difficult and what helps them overcome those challenges. It is chock-full of helpful hints for pupils to meditate and grow.

3) This Moment Is Your Life (and So Is This One): A Fun and Easy Guide to Mindfulness, Meditation, and Yoga- Mariam Gates

Not to worry, only the title is long, since the book itself is rather short and useful, particularly for teenagers and students.

Best podcasts for meditation for students

1) I Should Be Meditating- Alan Kilma

If you've thought this to yourself, this podcast is for you. His lectures and guided meditations, founded on decades of experience, can help you learn new ways to be present in life and have a greater understanding of your meditation journey.

2) ‍Ten Percent by Happier- Dan Harris

Harris, a news anchor, began meditating after having a panic attack on live air, and he is now a believer. In his weekly lecture, he explains his story as well as the underlying science of meditation and its benefits, as explained by experts. 

3) ‍Untangle

This is the Meditation Studio app's podcast. Every week, you will learn about the advantages of mindfulness meditation and how it may improve your life from actual people and professionals such as psychologists, doctors, and neuroscientists.

Best apps for meditation for students

No, we are not trying to sell you anything. These are absolutely free( see how much we care). These apps are considered to be the best free meditation apps for students.

1) HeadSpace

HeadSpace is a really useful tool that teaches you possibly life-changing meditation practises in just a few minutes every day. This meditation programme has hundreds of sessions on topics such as physical well-being, stress reduction, anxiety reduction, and personal growth. All of these can be used to improve your mood, reduce stress, and increase your focus.

2) ‍Calm

You can stay "calm" in the face of adversity with the help of this app. The backdrops of these meditation apps are designed specifically for pupils with difficulty moving forward since they help calm and relax their brains. Meditation sessions range from twenty minutes to an hour in length.

3) ‍Buddhify

This app is enjoyed and used by people of all ages—a revitalising method to reduce stress in students' academic lives. The illuminating and calming meditation app allows you to incorporate awareness into your daily tasks while maintaining a happy attitude. It aids your capacity to centre yourself and relax in stressful situations.

Talking about meditation apps for taking care of yourself, we also want you to take care of your health, so our blog on healthcare apps would surely help you take care of yourself.

Overall, meditation for students is incredibly necessary and beneficial. Include meditation in your daily schedule if you want to live a well-rounded life in terms of academics, social, and mental health. Talking about mental health, if you want to know more about how to take care of your mental health, our blog on ways to care for your mental health will help you out!

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