For many students, especially for upperclassmen, school can be very hectic. Students may feel overwhelmed with homework, tests and studying. The pressure of “doing your best” exists within all assignments, projects and extracurriculars and there seems to be no solution to alleviate the amount of work assigned in school.

However, there is one easy way to ensure that you are focused on the task at hand and therefore, putting your best foot forward in terms of the work you are doing: meditation.

Meditation is a relaxation tactic that doubles as a method to hone your focus. Being assessed in class, on standardized tests or simply for homework can be very stressful. There are often other things on the mind that do not relate to the assessment which makes room for error on tests. In order to completely focus on the task at hand, your mind has to be clear. In the case of homework or tests, students cannot do their best work if they have a million other things on their minds.

Because of all this mental stimulation, especially with social media, it becomes more and more difficult to devote your entire attention to what you are doing. Small mistakes add up and detract from the quality of your work, not because of lack of studying but lack of focus. Meditation is the practice of focusing on a word, thought, or object in order to concentrate your attention. Mindfulness meditation does not require a lot of time or effort. You simply need to devote 5-10 minutes of your day to make your mind still, quiet and focused.

However, there is no one way to meditate. Whatever is comfortable for one person, might not work for you. It is important to keep an open mind until you find an effective method.

There are many apps that time your meditation, provide relaxing sounds and offer a mantra to use during your meditation. Apps such as Headspace and Calm help create a routine of meditating and also offer lessons from experts on how to completely clear your mind.

Meditation can even be in the form of physical activity. For example, yoga is a practice that balances both your body and mind. Running or biking can also be a form of meditation depending on how they are done. Running without music and being quiet and alone with your thoughts has a similar effect as an in-house meditation.

“Meditation clears the mind. It makes you feel free of your burdens and helps you lose the distractions you usually have. As you meditate and focus, it’s easier to be more determined because your studies are the only thing on your mind” sophomore Trip Beardslee said.

The practice of meditation has been around for thousands of years and developed by many cultures. The practice of mindfulness and meditation will prove helpful, not only in academics but in overall day-to-day life. A couple of quiet, focused minutes a day offers a sense of peace and a break from the world, in addition to calming your mind. With everything going on in the world, it is important to adopt small acts of self-care that will help you in the long run.