Mindfulness is a concept that has become incredibly popular over the last several years. Sure, the idea has always been there, but the connection between travel and mindfulness seems to be a newer, upward trend that people are much more aware of.
The main idea behind mindfulness is allowing yourself to be less focused on the future or past, and granting yourself the permission to remain in the present moment. No matter the reason behind it, mindfulness is a key element when making the most out of your study abroad experience.
How can you remain more mindful during your time studying abroad?
Appreciate Your Current Daily Activities
Every day, you live within a typical routine. You sleep in the same bed. You eat the same types of food. You take the same route to school using the same means of usual transportation. You talk to the same people. Appreciate these things because once you travel to a new country and immerse yourself in a new culture, your daily routine and typical activities will be completely different.
You won’t want to spend your time abroad thinking about how much you miss your favorite foods or how you want your favorite pillow. You will want to spend more time focusing on how beautiful and unique each individual experience is that you may never have the opportunity to experience again.
Unplug from Social Media Every Once in a While
The number one thing that can truly take you away from a mindful study abroad experience is allowing yourself to be sucked into social media. It is an excellent tool to stay in contact with friends and family back home, but it can also be a distraction from what is happening right in front of you.
Take a step back and instead of posting an Instagram story, listen to a host family story or create your own real life story in the new country you are in so you have a memory that lasts beyond 24 hours.
Create a Unique Study Abroad Experience Through Volunteering Abroad
In Up with People, our study abroad students are also given the unique experience of volunteering during their program. Volunteering has been scientifically proven to improve your level of happiness and mental health.
By focusing outwards on other people and less within ourselves, we are able to be provided with a higher sense of purpose. Having that singular focus can help us to remain more present, mindful, and connected to the people and our surroundings within the moment.
There are many ways to put yourself in a more mindful state while studying abroad. Our professors can help students to understand and navigate through the experience while learning more about cultural immersion through the development of good communication and interpersonal skills.
Learn more about how you can study abroad in Up with People!
“How can we fix a world that’s broken
Pull together what’s been torn apart?
Someone has to make a stand so just look in the mirror
It starts inside a solitary heart.”One Person (What Can I Do?) © Up with People
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