As part of the new emphasis on student wellness at the University of Kentucky, I was asked to introduce mindfulness to incoming first-year pharmacy students. One of my major focuses was to differentiate preconceived mindfulness imagery (where one must sit mountain side, perfectly still in a cloud of incense and experience some divine intervention) and actually integration of mindfulness into our daily lives as students. With homage to a recent post on mindful here are 7 ways to be more mindful as a student.
be present This is the first step in mindfulness at any point, place, or time in your life. You have to be there; be in it. The present moment is precious and always fleeting. Savor it. Capture it. Love it. start small Starting small keeps you from slipping into the anxiety pit of the future. Too many times I find myself telling others, ‘You are worrying about something that may not even exist.’ There is so much truth to this. We worry about things that haven’t happened yet - and may not even happen. We waste our time and energy anxiously planning out any possible path that may or may not come to fruition. Aside from all that wasted time and energy, we lose the ability to take the small steps necessary to tackle the large life challenges that actually may deserve a little worry. one thing at a time There is no such thing as multitasking. let something else do the thinking Google tasks, outlook invites, iCal events. Use them, just don’t let them become the only thing you focus on. break it up The Pomodoro Technique is the mindfulness concept applied to efficient workflow. It is a process of working without any distractions for a brief time (usually 25 minutes) and then taking 5 minute break. I like using Tide and Focus. accept what you can't change If being present is the first step in mindfulness, then accepting what you cannot change is the second, maybe third. To be mindful means to accept this present moment just as it is. And it that you accept YOU - whatever that may entail at this very moment. You will not be perfect. You may not always feel confident. You may hate things about yourself. Recognize those thoughts, and let them pass just as they came. In the medical context, you will be faced with an insane amount of flying colors and blaring sounds that constantly demand your attention and all of those things will be incredibly annoying. You will become infatuated with trying to avoid them - but learning to accept those distractions for what they are and moving past them will allow you to excel in the field. beginner's mind What is beginner’s mind? It’s dropping our expectations and preconceived ideas about something, and seeing things with an open mind, fresh eyes, just like a beginner. Shoshin (初心) is the word from Zen Buddhism meaning "beginner's mind." Basically, it means approaching each experience with an attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions when studying a subject. As we become experts in a field, our past experiences can often cloud our ability to see what is right in front of us. I’ve shared some of Leo Babauta’s other work on his blog, zenhabits, but he gives a nice overview of adopting a beginner’s mindset. Comments are closed.
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