Mind, Body & Soul Series: The Mind

Let's talk about the mind. Part one of the: mind, body and soul trio. These 3 parts of our being are so important as they endlessly intertwine and affect one another while simultaneously are unique and complex in their own way. We do everything with our mind; we think, we act, we feel, grow, question, dream, love, etc. Therefore, we must take care of it.

You can not plant a few seeds in a pot of soil and not water or give it sunshine. We should all take time out of your busy days and dedicate a few moments to care for our mind, something simple to exercise the neurons in our brain, without over stressing it.

Try learning a new language or pick up an instrument for the first time. As for me, I am getting back into learning Spanish which is something I have always been passionate about. I am also learning how to play the piano (and maybe the ukulele too!) from the best tutor and soon to be music teacher in the world. That would be my incredibly amazing boyfriend and best friend Tyler. I know, sappy, but I have a lot to brag about :) Doing this has taken me away from aimlessly scrolling through my phone and instead practicing my C major scale or subjunctives in Spanish form.

I feel so much more productive and overall excited when exercising my mind. However, the days that are filled with back to back classes and a never ending list of assignments and exams that I need to study for, yeah, those days can be difficult to want to learn even more stuff. I find it helpful to give myself a break on those long days and schedule a piano or Spanish lesson on days that I know will be easier. One way that I have Spanish lessons is by listening to podcasts in the language. This is so easy and a good way to make long car rides go by quick. Watching a show with subtitles is another trick I want to start using too! I heard that Wilmer Flores, former New York Mets player and my personal favorite baseball player, learned English by watching "Friends" (also my favorite show) with subtitles after moving from Venezuela.

When it comes to staying organized, my agenda is everything. I write down every assignment with its due date, my schedule for work, concerts that I have tickets to (those that have tragically been scratched off for the time being), literally everything gets written down. I have also started using my phone calendar, but writing things down and being able to check them off is just too satisfying to not do. Every time a new semester rolls around and the anxiety inducing syllabus week gets thrown in my face with a million due dates for projects, quizzes, and CARE PLANS (nursing majors will know what I'm talking about), I need something to keep me in check. Writing everything down can be daunting, but it definitely takes the stress away by letting me know week by week what I need to do. If you're not a student; bills, appointments, fun diy projects for around the house, etc. are all things I also enjoy agenda-ing. This helps keep my mind at peace. Find what works for you and what doesn't. I could forget literally anything, so this is definitely a must for me. Another thing that keeps my mind healthy and happy is meditation.

Some people may say,

oh no, that's not for me

I don't get it

Or

I'll just fall asleep...

Hey buddy, you're doing it wrong! Meditation can be different for every person. You can meditate when listening to a song or when staring into the ocean. All it is is dedicating a time to pause, focus on your mind, and think about the way you're breathing. You don't have to say "OM" and you don't have to sit criss cross applesauce. But, if you're like me, have a little yoga sesh and get into...

Savasana!

-a practice of gradually relaxing one body part at a time and one thought at a time. When you do this practice day after day, it conditions the body to release stress and can improve your sense of physical and emotional well-being.

Whatever way you do it, make time for your mind and your mind will thank you. If everybody in this orbiting world of ours would pause a little longer and reflect a little more, I think some peace and understanding would grow and spread. Happier minds are more relaxed, compassionate, and supportive to making this beautiful Earth a better place to live (and to travel the universe in). From my mind to yours...

spread kindness, jenn