Mental health is extremely important in high school. And during high-stress scenarios, like finals week, stress levels can be super high. Here are some easy ways to use mindfulness to help improve mental health.

Mindfulness is being aware of what you are doing and not being overwhelmed by the things going on around you. This seems like a simple task, but with your mind constantly worrying about what is going to happen in the future, it creates a lot anxiety.

Here are five ways you can use mindfulness to help stress and anxiety.

1. Meditation

Meditation is the art of learning to observe your thoughts and feelings without judgment. Learning to meditate is a skill; it takes consistency and practice to become good at meditating. When learning how to meditate it can be helpful to use guided meditation. Apps like Headspace can be beneficial. This app can be downloaded on your phone and it will take you through guided meditation daily. Finding the right meditation practice is all about exploring and trying new things.

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2. Breathing

Remembering to take deep breaths is key to mindfulness. In any situation, taking three or four deep breaths is a great way to calm down and refocus. Concentrating on breathing helps bring you back to the here and now.

3. Ground Yourself

Finding a smooth stone or a toy to fidget with throughout the day can be helpful. If you struggle with meditating or breathing, this can be the perfect tool to calm you down.

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4. Essential Oils

Since breathing is such a huge part of mindfulness, essential oils can be very fun to include. If you’re feeling stress or anxiety, putting some essential oils on your pressure points can help you calm down. You can buy different oils for almost any issue you have.

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5. Do What You Love

Partaking in hobbies like cooking, art, or just taking a walk can help you be more mindful. Doing something you love forces you to be in the moment and worry less about the “what ifs.” Hobbies can reduce stress and anxiety.

“I have anxiety that makes it very hard to me to focus during school; using meditation and mindfulness has helped to refocus me in class,” Fiona McPhail a RMHS sophomore said.

Everyone can suffer from anxiety and stress, but mindfulness can help to relieve some of those struggles. You can use mindfulness in many ways; the key to learning how to use it is by experimenting and finding what works best for you.