Finals Resources

The Wellness Exchange is your greatest mental health resource at NYU.

• Call the 24-hour hotline at +1 (212) 443-9999
• Chat via the Wellness Exchange app anytime
• Make a virtual appointment
• Use the virtual drop-in hours to speak with a certified counselor about any day-to-day challenges or health concerns

"Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us" - Mindful.org

How can mindfulness, or mindful movement, help when you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed? Practicing mindfulness can help you focus on the present moment, which can help you to de-stress, as well as increase your focus and awareness.     

MindfulNYU is the award-winning meditation, mindfulness, and contemplative life initiative that promotes wisdom, compassion, and well-being on campus—and beyond. MindfulNYU hosts daily yoga classes and group meditation for students, faculty and staff. A commitment to offering inclusive, transformative experiences based in love, community and healing is at the foundation of our mission.

Box breathing is a deep breathing technique that can help slow down your breathing and regulate your nervous system to help you de-stress.  It is a simple, but powerful relaxation technique, that can help you clear your mind, calm down and re-focus.

• Step 1: Breathe in, counting to four slowly.
  • Feel the texture of the air entering your lungs
• Step 2: Hold your breath for a count of four.
  • Try to avoid inhaling or exhaling for the full count.
• Step 3: Slowly exhale for a count of four.
  • Feel the texture of the air as it leaves your lungs
• Step 4: Hold your breath for a count of four.
  • Try to avoid inhaling or exhaling for the full count.
• Step 5: Repeat steps 1 to 4 until you feel re-centered.

Repeat this exercise as many times as you can.  If the count of four doesn't feel natural for you, try a different count - five, six, eight - until you find what works for you. 

How to Meditate article including audio meditations from Mindful

Here are the basic steps to meditation:

1. Make sure to eliminate distractions you may have brought with you to the meditation by turning off any electronic devices you have.
2. Choose a spot in the room where you feel comfortable and are not too crowded, and select a chair or cushion to sit on.  You can even lie down if that is most comfortable for you.  
3. Relax your body into a position that feels comfortable to you. This can be sitting cross-legged, but it does not have to be.  Make sure that you have an upright spine so that you can take deep breaths, and adjust your position as you strive to eliminate any tension in your body.
4. Close your eyes if you feel comfortable or look slightly downwards with a soft focus.
5. Begin to focus on your breathing, the feeling of inhaling a sustaining breath of air, holding that air in your lungs for a few seconds, and then slowly exhaling. You may experience racing thoughts, fatigue, or restlessness — this is all normal. Keep bringing your attention back to the inhale and exhale of your breath.
6. Once you are somewhat settled in your breath, notice what is happening in the room and in your body — including sounds, sensations, thoughts, emotions — without getting carried away by them. When you do get carried away, simply bring your attention back to your breath and the present moment with gentleness.
7. Don't give up! There is no such thing as meditating “wrong.” The more you practice, the easier it gets to stay present.

Adapted from MindfulNYU

Apps are freely available, but only a few have any free content.  Most require a subscription to access all the content on the app.  Some may have low cost subscriptions for students.