Sarah Rubenstein-Gillis and Andrea Gerding from Gannett Health Services led a discussion on work and relaxation techniques that we can effectively employ to improve our lives. Despite the immense benefits and eye-opening experiences that college provides an individual, sometimes it feels like the work load amounts to more than a full-time job. At the beginning of each day, it can certainly appear daunting when it seems like the work and activities of the day will leave you with minimal spare time. However, Rubenstein-Gillis and Gerding emphasized the utility and importance of chunking one’s work. Indeed, rather than deciding to sit down for the entire afternoon to fully complete an essay or a problem set, it can be far more effective to have shorter work sessions of say, 30 minutes, where the goal is to complete a short task like a paragraph or single problem and then take a short break before you begin the next work session. I actually tried this technique a couple days later, and I can definitely attest to the fact that this is truly a great technique!

Another interesting component of the discussion was when our guests led us through a few minutes of meditation. As someone who has never practiced or engaged in any type of meditation, I was certainly curious about the mechanics of it. Although we only practiced basic breathing techniques in those few minutes, for some reason, I certainly felt more loose and relaxed afterwards. This definitely got me more interested in meditation!