Three mental health practices to give your mind a little break

As busy and stressed students it is so important to take time for our mental health. For the past seven years of my life, I have been on a journey to find the best mental health practices that work for me.

I have watched documentaries, seen therapists, taken medication and tried countless methods in an attempt to maintain my sanity.

In honor of Mental Health Week, I want to share some practices that work for me in the hopes that they will work for you as well.

**Meditation**

Meditation is something that society deems intimidating. It isn’t. Chances are, you have meditated and didn’t know that you were meditating.

Prayer is a form of meditation. Listening to music and not doing anything is meditation. Focusing on one task with little to no brainpower, like watching a movie, is meditation.

Meditating gives your mind a little micro-break. Doing deep breathing and bringing oxygen into your brain while you’re meditating can also be very relieving. On Spotify and YouTube, you can find guided meditations. So if you still find it intimidating, someone is there to guide you through it.

**Go outside**

Being outside for an hour a day is important for our mental health for many reasons. For one, the sun provides us with vitamin D, a crucial vitamin that our body needs to thrive.

Going outside for a walk is an easy way to get exercise. Going for a walk and listening to music or a podcast might be my favorite form of meditation.

The weather right now is beautiful and the colors are breathtaking. Take this weekend as an opportunity before it gets really cold to go for a walk in the Arb. Going on a walk alone can be so fulfilling.

Being outside boosts creativity and focus. If you experiance writer’s block or you get stuck on a problem,
go outside. Let your mind relax.

**Be creative**

We all have an artistic side. It is part of what makes us human. We all express that part of ourselves in different ways. For me, writing this article is a creative outlet.

Making playlists, Pinterest-boards, editing photos on VSCO, and coloring in a color book are all very simple things anyone can do to practice creativity.

I hope these small practices can help you gain some mental clarity. If you need some extra assistance please remember that part of your tuition money goes to mental health services. Whether it’s refilling a mental health prescription or setting up a counseling appointment, Health Services is always there to help. Have a wonderful and relaxing week.