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Meditation can help you manage stress

Stressed Out Nurses Weekly, August 20, 2007

Yoga, tai chi, and breathing exercises are linked in that they focus on relieving the body of stress and increasing mindfulness. Another way of doing this is through meditation. Studies of meditation in college students reveal that those who meditate get better grades, increase their IQ, improve their memory, learn quickly, and expand the amount of their brain that is responding to stimuli.

Try this meditation technique:

• Get in a comfortable position, in a place where you will not be disturbed, and sit quietly.
• Pick a word or short phrase (known as a "mantra") on which to focus. You can even concentrate on your breathing.
• Close your eyes.
• Breathe in and out slowly as you concentrate on repeating your focus word or phrase, or listen to the sound of your breath.
• Let your mind quiet as you repeat your mantra.
• Don't worry if your mind wanders. Just bring yourself back to your word, phrase, or breath.
• Continue for about 20 minutes.
• Remain sitting for a minute or two after your 20 minutes are over.

Source: Stressed Out About the NCLEX-RN®, HCPro Inc., 2007. For more information on our series of Stressed Out books, visit www.stressedoutnurses.com

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