Graphic by Yujin Kim/The Choate News
Amid the chaos of hockey games, essays, and tests, I went into the last week of winterlude with a goal to meditate every day during one of the school year’s busiest weeks.
Meditation is accessible to all and easy to learn. It seemed almost too simple of a solution for the complex stressors in my life, which is why I was reluctant to start in the first place. As someone who typically internalizes and suppresses my stress, I wasn’t sure how meditating instead of actively dealing with my stressors could help me move forward from them.
The first time I meditated during winterlude was before an early morning chemistry class. I used a meditation session specifically geared towards enhancing focus, where the narrator asked me to focus solely on the music playing. Prior to the meditation, I remember feeling very rushed, with a million thoughts rushing through my head. Yet, as I got out of bed after meditating, I felt a sense of serendipity and was surprised that the meditation had actually worked. Feeling more organized, I headed off to class.
At first, it was difficult to listen only to the meditation guide and not get distracted by my other thoughts, especially during a busy day. But, as I continued to meditate day after day, I could tell that my focus had improved. Over winter break, meditation helped me get out of my head and put me into a better mindset to enjoy a break from school’s pressure. Now that we’re back and running, I hope to add meditating to part of my daily routine and see its long-term impacts on my wellbeing.
In the short term, I have noticed a sense of calm before tests and improved focus for the information I need to remember. Similarly, meditating before hockey practice has helped get my mind off things that aren’t important on the ice. I like meditating alone in my room, especially on my bed, where I can comfortably sit or lie down. I typically browse YouTube for guided meditation videos as I’ve found that I prefer meditation sessions guided by women, finding more comfort in feminine voices. I also like listening to the soothing sounds and music that play in the background of the videos.
Choate is a stressful place, and it can be overwhelming when free time seems impossible to find. I recommend meditation by starting for just five minutes before extending to longer periods of time as you get more comfortable with it. Once you find what method of meditation works best for you, its positive effects on your mental health and wellbeing will keep you hooked. While I had only intended to try meditation for one week during winterlude, it ended up being a lot more helpful than I had anticipated. Here I am, two months later in the thick of the winter term, still meditating and reaping its benefits.
