The beginning of each new year is a time when many claim that they will stay committed to a variety of fad diets or weight loss regimes that are quickly forgotten, once responsibilities such as work and school return to their normal pace. While physical health is an extremely important part of life, mental health is just as important but is often overlooked. Adults working full time may spend their free time on taking care of their families, and let’s face it, high school and college students don’t have any free time either and sometimes it is a miracle just to get a full night of sleep. With such busy lives, it is easy to become exhausted and burnt out, causing relief from stress to seem unattainable. If you are one of the many feeling this way, meditation might be the answer. This only requires a very small time commitment, about ten minutes each day, and according to a New York Times article, there can also be many health benefits, such as reducing blood pressure. While the scientists that performed the study claim that the research on the effects of meditation on the body are still in the works, it has proven to change how the brain handles emotions, which can play a great role in stress management.

Last spring, I was a ball of pure anxiety as I had to prepare myself for all the things a high school senior may experience — AP tests, graduating, and preparing to embark on the adventure of college — when a friend suggested I try meditation to help manage the stress. I was skeptical at first, but I downloaded a free app called Headspace that guides you through meditation.

In simple terms, meditation is taking time to shut out the rest of the world and to focus on clearing out your mind and to focus only on breathing. The break from all of the stress helped me clear out my mind and afterward allowed me to put my responsibilities and stresses into perspective. It became a nightly routine for me, and for a long time I would meditate every night before bed and I found that I fell asleep easier, and woke up feeling calm and well-rested. Meditation is certainly not a cure-all for all types of stress or anxiety, but it has helped me have a better grasp on balancing stress in my life, and it only takes a few minutes a day. Even better, meditation is free and it only requires an iOS device and a comfortable place to sit. If you are seeking a change in how you feel in this new year, meditation might be your best option and Headspace is the right place to start.