Ever wonder how mindfulness can help you deal with stress? If so, then check out this great article about how mindfulness is helping students.

What is Mindfulness?

It is a practice aimed at enhancing self-awareness and reducing stress by focusing, without judgment, on the present moment. It is to provide a sort of mental reset button, freeing yourself from a crush of distraction, swell of anger or parade of fears and regrets that can dominate thoughts and derail behavior. Exercises such as counting breaths or focusing on one of the five senses become anchors to turn to and return to when your thoughts wander.

If you’re often worried sick before school, you might have anxiety.

If so, read this great article about what anxiety is and how to get help if you think that you suffer from it. The article was written by Howard J. Bennett,who is a practicing pediatrician in the Washington DC area.

Here are some signs from the article that you may have an anxiety problem.

• You avoid situations because you’re afraid something bad will happen.

• You worry so much that you don’t enjoy what you’re doing.

• You have lots of stomachaches, especially before school.

If you think you have anxiety, talk to your parents about it. You can also talk to your counselor, your social worker, the school psychologist, or the school nurse.

The most important thing is this: Don’t beat yourself up! Being anxious is not something you can simply turn off.