Page 23 - BUZZ Magazine - Issue No. 1 Spring 2021 | University of Rochester

MAKE A MINDFUL TRANSITION
“Many people expect that they’ll jump right back into their
old routines and activities when things open up again,”
says Jennifer Lee. “But this may not be realistic or what
we need.” She adds that acknowledging what we’ve
all experienced—a year of collective hardship—and
transitioning to new realities can be difficult. To help
people adjust, Lee offers the following suggestions. JENNIFER LEE, CPT
Lifestyle Counselor at the Center for
Community Health & Prevention
Try mindfulness-based stress reduction, or MBSR.
Mindfulness is the ability to know what is happening in When we align
your head at any given moment without getting carried “ our behaviors
away. Often recommended to manage disease, MBSR is a with our values,
useful method for improving mental health and reducing
symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. Lee likes there is a
compassion or loving-kindness meditation, and suggests
the ten-minute “Guided Lovingkindness” meditation of well-being
available at tenpercent.com/guided-meditations. and vitality.

greater sense “
Practice gratitude. You might journal for five minutes,
recall meaningful memories, or write a letter to someone
who’s made an impact on your life.

Lower expectations to a realistic level. Our schedules
will likely increase or shift and include more socializing,
extracurricular activities, commuting, and much more.
Having a realistic idea of what you can take on and
how much time and energy you can give is important
for self-preservation.

Align with your values. Take time to reflect on what your
values are and how or if the adjustments to routines are
adding value to your life. When we align our behaviors
with our values, there is a greater sense of well-being
and vitality.

FOR MORE MEDITATION RESOURCES, LEE RECOMMENDS
THE CALM, HEADSPACE, OR INSIGHT TIMER APPS.

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