College students have a lot on their plates. Students’ have to maintain their jobs outside of school, fulfill the obligations of their personal relationships, and stay on top of the workload of each course! With these demands often conflicting with one another, the need for finding the balance between them is pressing. But how can it be done?

So often people fervently search for peace of mind as if it is the medal you win after making it through the maze of life. But what if the answer to finding balance is already within you and all it takes is for you to retreat within yourself to find it?

Now, the golden question, why should I even try it? I’m so glad you asked! Tons of research has been done on the efficacy of meditation and the benefits are numerous, in particular for the unique population of college students. Studies show that:

• 30 minutes of meditation 7 days a week increases creativity and elevates mood (you can do this on your lunch break!)
• Meditation reduced distractive and ruminating thoughts in distressed college students
• Incorporating meditation into everyday life has shown to increase positive emotions in students
• Meditation improved academic performance and school behavior, reduced anxiety, heightened self-compassion, and decreased notions of perfectionism and self-criticism in college students (Simply by sitting quietly for 15-20 minutes a day!)

Meditation doesn’t have to be this elaborate process that can only be done when you’re looking out of your third eye while standing on your head on top of a mountain. There are many activities that elicit a meditative, mindful, and relaxed state that you can do every day. Below are some suggestions; just find a quiet spot and try them.

• Transcendental Meditation: Sit comfortably, breathe deeply, repeat a mantra internally to focus your energy, observe your thoughts and emotions rather than react to them
• Guided Imagery Meditation: Picture a soothing scene, engage all your senses to make the image as real as possible (do you smell flowers? is there are breeze on your face?), let your mind get lost in the scene
• Movement Meditation, i.e. walking, yoga, tai chi (and it’s great exercise)
• Reading/quiet time: creates a great break from the mundane.

***Omvana is a great iPhone/iPad mediation app and it’s FREE!***

Starting your mornings off with a meditation exercise will ready you for the demands that lay ahead throughout your day by giving you a clear head and a more positive disposition. Taking a moment to recharge at work when you feel overwhelmed, doing a focused meditation on a specific topic, i.e. eliminating self-doubt, etc. can make all the difference in increasing productivity in all areas of your life. Remember that peace already resides in you and it is refocusing on that internal happiness that will better equip you to deal with whatever obstacle that comes your way. Namaste!

–Jennifer Reed, Student Success Coach, NOVA Online

Contact me for the list of research articles used to write this post or for more meditation suggestions.

See other related blogs:

A Little Meditation Exercise to Refresh Your Brain

Getting a Good Start to Your Morning

Social Media Netiquette

Earlier this week we stressed the importance of understanding proper “Netiquette” and creating a positive online presence when you are an online student. Have you thought about how you can continue to keep that positive positive presence  outside of that online classroom? That’s right, were talking about Social Media! Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube and many other sources that you can use to virtually be “social” with other people.

With so many people using these forms of media, we want to share with you some helpful tips and reminders to maintain that positive presence in the digital social world. Learn more about Social Media Netiquette now.

Resources:

http://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter/social-media-statistics-2014_b57746

http://www.learnthenet.com/learn-about/social-netiquette/index.php

http://www.digitalsherpa.com/blog/how-social-media-has-changed-in-the-last-few-years/

Netiquette in the Online Classroom

As we reach week 5 of our Leadership Common Experience, we want to discuss the very important topic of understanding online etiquette or what it is commonly referred to as Netiquette. As a virtual student, do you know how to properly and professionally address an instructor through email?  Have you struggled with how to write a clear and concise response for your class discussion posts? When almost 100% of your communication with your faculty member(s) and fellow students will be through text format, it is key to know how to make a good “virtual” impression. The below resources provide some great tips and tools to help maintain a positive online presence in the classroom as an online student.

“How To Be a Good Online Learner” -This resource reviews the do’s and don’ts of overall communication virtually and as an online student.

“The Etiquette around Discussion Forums” -Discussion posts are required for a majority of classes offered through NOVA Online. When you compare an online course to one on a campus, this would be equal to your class attendance and participation. This is how an instructor and other students see your thoughts and insight on the course material. With this in mind, this article will give you some great tips on how to contribute to the class professionally and effectively.

What are some challenges that you face when it comes to communicating with staff, faculty and other peers as an online student?

Are there any other Netiquette tips that we missed? Please share them in the comments!