Mindfulness has many benefits including alleviating stress, increasing your ability to deal with illness, decreasing symptoms of depression, and improving overall health. In fact, people who practice mindfulness have been found to have improved cardiovascular health because they are less likely to smoke, be more physically active, and have a healthier body mass index (BMI). Not sold? Here are our top three reasons why you need to begin (or keep) practicing mindfulness:

1. Mindfulness improves your physical health.
   Studies have shown that practicing mindfulness can actually lower your blood pressure, reduce chronic pain, help you sleep better, and even alleviate some stomach (gastrointestinal) issues.
2. Mindfulness improves your mental health.
   In recent years, psychotherapists have turned to mindfulness meditation as an important element of treatment for a number of issues including depression, substance abuse, eating disorders, partner conflicts, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
3. Mindfulness improves your overall well-being.
   Practicing mindfulness makes it easier for you to be present and savor the pleasures of everyday life as they occur, helps you become fully engaged in your activities and with your friends and family, and creates capacity for you to better deal with adversity. People who practice mindfulness are less likely to get caught up in worries about the future or regrets over the past. They are even less likely to be preoccupied with concerns about success and self-esteem.

Ready to begin your journey with mindfulness? Get started with Mindful Moments. Every Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Student Center Cypress Room, students can drop in and relax by coloring or participating in short, guided mindfulness exercises.

“Mindfulness is a great way to practice self-care,” shared health educator, Sarah Morales. “In a nutshell, it’s about being as kind to yourself as you would be to others and knowing when your resources are running low and stepping back to replenish them. With the mindfulness exercises and coloring we will be offering, this new program is a great way for students to recharge.” Coloring, while it may sound silly, is a simple way to get started with mindfulness. The act of coloring allows you to focus on a simple task drawing your attention away from yourself and your worries and into the present moment. “Scientifically, coloring activates the right side of your brain which is the creative, artistic region of the brain,” explained health educator, JaPeera Edmonds. “Activating that side of the brain quiets the right side of your brain which is responsible for analytical and cognitive processes and is often activated when you are stressed or worried.”

Mindful moments begins October 10th and runs through December 5th. Have a scheduling conflict? Check out the Health Initiatives webpage for more resources and options to support your mental health and well-being. From pet therapy to our JOOL Health app, there are lots of resources to support you.