Mindful Studying Tips From a Delaware School Counselor
Danielle Litterelle
Meditation and breathing exercises can’t tackle your to do list, but they can help you calm down and center you to start again.
Here are some wellness tips to help you slow down and do your best as you approach mid-terms or finals.
Start with the right mindset by making a plan and organizing your workspace. Create a study calendar and start with the most difficult tasks first.
Step away from your studying. Be sure to give yourself breaks and incentives. It’s best to take a 10 minute break for every hour that you study.
Release stress with the power of music. Music, 60 seconds per beat, can cause the brain to synchronize with the beat and make you more focused. While studying, listen to light music in the background or grab your headphones. Give it a try with music by Mozart or Bach.
Turn off your phone. It is tempting to check your phone, but keep it out of reach.
Healthy routines make a difference in stress levels. In addition to getting a good night’s sleep (8-10 hours), make sure you eat a good breakfast the morning of the exam too.
If you are feeling tense and unable to relax, here are two great breathing exercises to help you calm your body and ease your mind:
Deep belly breathing
Start by breathing in through your nose. Draw the air into your belly rather than your chest.You can put your hands lightly on your stomach so you can be aware of your belly rising and falling. Breathe out through your mouth at least two-to-three times as long as you inhale. Be sure to relax your neck and shoulders. Repeat.
5-5-5 Breathing
Inhale very slowly through your nose for five seconds: 1-2-3-4-5. Exhale very slowly through your nose or mouth for five seconds: 1-2-3-4-5. Wait for five seconds: 1-2-3-4-5. Repeat the process three more times.
If you are interested in more mindfulness and relaxation techniques, download: Headspace, Calm, or Insight Timer.
Thanks to WFS MS/US Counselor Danielle Litterelle for her contributions to this article.
Before the Class of 2024 heads off on their senior explorations next week, they attend a series of seminars ("Senior Seminars") aimed at giving them tools for adulthood.
The WFS Model UN Club, accompanied by faculty advisor Nick Childers, recently sent a delegation of five students to the inaugural Tower Hill Model UN Conference.
Upper school environmental science students built model carbon capture algae farms as part of their study of climate change mitigation. They developed ways to measure algae growth using microscopes and a spectrophotometer.
Congratulations to our community members who performed at last night's Informal Concert! This concert is designed to showcase the talent of our students, parents, and faculty in an informal, yet serious, chamber concert or recital format.
Wilmington Friends School hosted its second 275th Anniversary Webinar series on Monday, April 8, titled “Leadership, Teamwork, and Quaker Values from the World of Sports."
Congratulations to eighth graders Maya Dobson, Lindsey Forman, Cooper Miller, Victor Montejo, Levi Sawdon, and Sofia Velastegui-Fratticci who contributed to IMAZINE 2023, the annual Delaware Libraries teen literary and artistic magazine! Click here to check it out.
Congratulations to the cast and crew of the upper school play, Radium Girls! This fast-paced ensemble piece featured 14 student actors playing multiple roles to create more than 30 characters. Bravo!
WFS welcomed Drew Smith, the Executive Director of Friends Council on Education, to campus to lead a discussion among our community members titled “275 Years of Quaker Education: What's it all about? Quakerism 101 for Parents.”
Each year, 3rd grade students utilize computer-aided design software (CAD) to replicate a renowned landmark from the various states that they are studying in Social Studies
Join us for a special birthday celebration commemorating the past 275 years of Wilmington Friends School and looking forward to all that's ahead. 6 p.m. on Friday, May 17 in the Lower School. Tours will be given, live music, & party favors! Heavy hors d'oeuvres, beer and wine. $25 per person or $40 per couple.
Preschoolers visited the middle/upper school garden to learn more about what is grown there and had the chance to transplant their own basil plants to take home!
Statement of Nondiscrimination as to Student Enrollment
Wilmington Friends School admits students of any race, color, gender, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students of these schools. Wilmington Friends School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national and ethnic origin in administration of their educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.