Being Mindful and Staying Well
Well-being Week is upon us, and we hope students are taking time to recharge. Practicing mindfulness is one way to reduce stress, increase mental clarity, and improve overall wellness. Third-year law student and president of Richmond Law’s Mindfulness in Law Society, Jesse Cooper, recently shared her thoughts about the value of this important practice and how law students can incorporate it into their daily lives.
How do you define mindfulness?
I define mindfulness as purposeful habits to allow mental rest and restoration. Mindfulness looks different for different people. For some its mediation, breathing exercises, or yoga, but for others maybe its sitting on a bench and watching birds sing or taking a relaxing hot bath at the end of a long week. It's all about setting aside time to recharge your mental batteries.
How has mindfulness helped you during your time in law school?
Mindfulness has helped me navigate law school in a sustainable way, especially in times where I started to feel burnt out. Having space to step back from it all helps me re-center myself and realize there is more to life than just school and work.
Why is it important for students to practice mindfulness during their law school experience?
Mindfulness is so helpful in managing anxiety, at least in my student experience. In a time like law school, where you are being pulled in so many directions at once, it’s so incredibly refreshing to take a step back and focus on one thing, like your breathing, or if you’re lucky, nothing for a few moments. Opportunities like this can help prevent burn-out, and help students gain perspective of their larger place in the world. Remember, take care of yourself so that you can continue taking care of others.
What recommendations do you have to help students stay well during stressful times?
Schedule down time like you would an assignment. Even if it’s just five minutes of not looking at your phone, trying not to think about school, not talking to others about school, every day. Five minutes may not seem like a significant period of time, but the relief it provides for your mind can have effects that could last all day. Mindfulness is a journey, and not a destination. Don’t get discouraged if you can’t find it every day or if you regress. Every little bit counts!
Anything else you’d like to add?
For those interested in learning more about mindfulness and meditation, the Mindfulness in Law Society will be hosting a meditation session led by a few of our UR law professors on October 26, 2022 from 12:15-12:45pm in the Mind Body Studio of the Well-Being Center. Every student is welcome, not just members!
Additionally, students interested in talking to someone about methods to improve their mental health can schedule a session with the new law school Counseling and Psychological Services liaison, Mary Anne Messer! Mary Anne Messer can be reached at CAPS@richmond.edu or at (804) 289-8119.
Transcript lightly edited for length and clarity.