Mindfulness is an essential concept when it comes to wellbeing and learning too. Mindfulness in education begins to be a hot topic today as its numerous benefits have already been observed. Acquiring knowledge, skills, and understanding happens in the process of learning. Which, today, is done in a wide variety of ways.
However, introducing mindfulness techniques and principles in learning could indeed change this process. Mindfulness education should be adopted by schools, educational institutions, and educators alike. It involves being fully present and aware of the learning experience.
Why is mindfulness important for students? What are the mindfulness benefits for students? Well, they can benefit tremendously from this. They would engage in the learning process while being aware of thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations. So, how can you integrate mindfulness for students into the learning process?
Mindful Breathing
Integrating mindfulness practices into educational strategies might not come in handy at the beginning. However, having a holistic educational approach is essential for the well-being of each student and the entire class. And breathing is an essential part of this. So, you can start the class with a few breathing exercises.
A few minutes of focused breathing should be enough. What is the effect of these breathing exercises on students? Well, they will be more calm and more present for the learning activities. They will center their attention on the class easier too.
Getting an education is a journey filled with ups and downs. Sometimes, students might be overwhelmed by the amount of tasks they have to complete. Thankfully, there is online writing help offered by Edurbirdie in Canada and around the world. You can pay for essay and you will feel calmer and at peace that you get expert help and guidance. Mindfulness breathing helps a lot in these moments. And if you, as an educator, can teach your students how to breathe, it will help them during stressful times.
Mindful Observation
Apart from the mindful breathing exercises you can practice with your students at the beginning of each class, you can also encourage them to observe mindfully. This might feel odd to some of them, as youngsters today are used to always doing something. Even though it is just scrolling their social media feeds on their smartphones.
So, encourage students to observe their surroundings or a particular object with their full attention. How is this helping them? Well, it cultivates focus and sharpens observational skills.
Mindful Listening
Not only breathing mindfully and observing things is essential. Listening is equally important. If we take a look at our societies, we can easily notice that a culture of not actively listening has developed. We have everything at a click away. There are so many things that distract our attention. And it has become increasingly challenging to focus your attention on a single thing.
But also to listen actively to what others have to say. To instill this skill in your students, you can incorporate activities that include active listening in education. What does this mean? Students would have to pay attention to sounds or spoken words without judgment and distraction. Besides promoting empathy, this will enhance their listening skills.
Mindful Reflection
We live in a fast-paced world. Everyone is busy and in a hurry. Few people find time to reflect on their days, their behaviors, or thoughts. But these are essential as becoming self-aware leads to healthy behaviors and habits. So, as an educator, you can encourage students to reflect mindfully. What does this mean? Save some time for journaling or reflecting activities.
They should feel encouraged to express their thoughts and emotions regarding the learning material. Which encourages self-awareness and critical thinking development. If they want to share with you their thoughts, they can help you edit and personalize the learning material and experience.
Final Thoughts
Mindfulness is a hot topic today, especially as we live in a fast-paced world where business is rewarded. Encouraging youngsters to become more mindful makes room for more empathy, self-awareness, and active listening. Which, in turn, improves communication.
How can you integrate mindfulness practices into educational strategies? Start your classes with some mindful breathing exercises. Encourage students to focus their attention on a specific thing. Include some deep listening exercises in the classes. And more importantly, highlight the importance of mindful reflection and save some time for this.
Bio lines: Scott Roberts is a content writer and blogger. He is interested in psychology and how the brain works. He has written many articles on topics such as mindfulness, well-being, and soft skills development.
