Why start now?I have heard all kinds of reasons not to try mindfulness, but one of the most common underlying themes is getting started. For some it’s a strange concept to focus on a contemplative practice. For others, there is no perceived need. Many express skepticism. These are all valid thoughts – so why should you start now? The short answer – you are in it. Whether you perceive it to be or not, you are on a pharmacy Spartan Race. You will be tired. You will get knocked down. You will be faced with obstacles that will convince you they are insurmountable. Graduate students are more than six times as likely to experience anxiety and depression... A review of graduate students revealed that grad students are more than six times as likely to experience anxiety and depression compared to everyone else (41% vs 6%). To add a bit of perspective, two University of Kentucky faculty helped with this review: L Todd Weiss from the Markey Cancer Center, and College of Medicine faculty, Nathan L Vanderford. You have three options: act like nothing is wrong and carry on (if you can do this, seriously, bravo), succumb to the challenges, or find methods to adapt and excel. Albeit biased, I would say option three is your best bet. While there are a million methods to choose from, our focus will be on the superpower available to all of us in every moment – Mindfulness. Mindfulness changes the way you react to the constant stressors of healthcare education. There is a growing body of evidence supporting the benefits of mindfulness within healthcare professions. Mindfulness changes the way you react to the constant stressors of healthcare education. It re-shapes your self-awareness to fight ruminating on mistakes or the angst of the unknown future. Through the practice, you are able to make better decisions, become more focused, and handle the day-to-day stressors that we all face.
You don’t have to take my word for it. Try it. Next time that frequent thought of, ‘omg… I’m so screwed. There is literally no way that I can <insert your favorite pessimistic mantra>,’ STOP. Try this technique from Mindful and Find Balance During a Moment of Panic. Comments are closed.
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