Mindfulness is an essential tool for everyone to practice, however, many may not be familiar with what it means! Mindfulness is the "state of being aware of your mind, body, and feelings in the present moment," said Dr. Tiffiny Hughes-Troutman, Director of Health Behavior in Health Initiatives.

Mindfulness provides many benefits for academic success!  Practicing this can lead to greater resilience, better sleep, heightened focus, and increased confidence.  Likewise, it is beneficial for health and well-being.  If practiced consistently, it can lower levels of stress, depression, or anxiety, lift moods, boost the immune system, and make you happier! We sat down with Dr. Hughes-Troutman and put together a guide for those unfamiliar with the term and how to start practicing it.

How you can start practicing mindfulness:

At Georgia Tech, it is not uncommon for students to believe they don’t have enough time to implement new routines, however, this is one that can really benefit you!  Dr. Hughes-Troutman explained, “For many, starting a mindfulness practice is challenging due to a perceived lack of time, impatience over a need to feel different immediately, and doubts or perfectionism about ‘practicing it in the right way.’ It’s important to realize that it’s natural to initially feel restless when practicing mindfulness and it may be difficult to focus due to wandering thoughts and our a tendency to focus on ‘doing and not thinking.’” 

So, what are the steps in practicing this?

1. Start being more aware of your breathing.  Take the time to focus on the ins and outs of your breath--like in yoga!
2. Take a minute in between the activities you are doing to pause and think.  An example of this would be taking a few moments in between bites when eating or pausing before picking up the phone (this one is definitely an impulse, but try to control it!).
3. Find a time in your day when you can devote 10-15 minutes to be completely mindful.  Try to reduce distractions including TV and phones.  For instance, if you have scheduled a 15-minute walk, take the time to decide what your route will be, what time you will be least distracted, and the things you can do to stay focused.
4. Once you have started practicing, make this something you do consistently so that it becomes a part of your routine. If you need extra help with routine, mindfulness apps and podcasts are extremely helpful!

What resources are available on campus to exercise mindfulness?

• Health Initiatives- Every Wednesday, May 15th-July 26th from 3:30-4:00, Health Initiatives hosts “Mindful Moments: Drop in and Relax” in the Student Center Juniper Room.  Drop in to relax and de-stress with short guided mindfulness exercises and coloring!  Join this relaxation space to learn and practice simple mindfulness techniques and stress management skills that can be easily incorporated into your daily routine.
• Honors Program- Meditation, Mindfulness and Mental Acuity program’s GT 1000 course
• Meditation Club- A community of students interested in learning about and practicing meditation as a way of improving mental well-being. They meet during the summer on Wednesday and Thursdays, DM Smith 015, 6:00 p.m.
• SKY at Georgia Tech- Promotes a stress-free campus at GT.  There are weekly activities including meditation, workshops, and yoga.

Mindfulness is a process and it’s never too late to start. For more information about mindfulness and events on campus go to healthinitiatives.gatech.edu/mindfulness.