Where has the time gone?

It happens every spring. At some point in April, someone says in passing something like, “There are only four Mondays left in the spring semester.” Every year, it takes me by surprise, and I think, Where has the time gone? I am sure there are many students who have been counting down the semester, especially our graduating students. Meanwhile, students, even those counting down, are maximizing every moment before the end of the semester as they work toward completing their final projects and exams.

Considering the many ways we may experience the semester’s final weeks passing, I want to explore what it means to savor the moments of college and how to help students slow down and immerse themselves in their experience.

To me, savoring the moment means deliberately creating space to process the small moments each day which come together to form the big picture version of our lives. I think many of us, myself included, sometimes fall into the habit of getting through our days instead of living in them.

Looking back on my college experience, I sometimes wish I had spent a little more time soaking in the everyday moments. I remember in detail the days that I would call the most important experiences of my college career. I can clearly recall orientation, graduation, and key campus-wide events. Those memories are all incredibly important to me, but I wish I could also remember those afternoons outdoors around campus socializing with my friends, the moments of connection with my faculty after class, and a million other moments that together transformed me during my time in college.

Savoring the moments in college is not merely a luxury; it is a necessity for holistic well-being and personal growth. Being present in the daily moments of our lives is an important part of mindfulness practice. Mindfulness is the quality or state of being actively conscious of oneself. Researchers Fred Bryant, Erica Chadwick, and Katharina Kluwe shared in a 2011 study that individuals who engage in mindfulness report higher levels of happiness, life satisfaction, and overall well-being. By embracing mindfulness, students can enhance their overall quality of life, deepen their connections with others, and derive greater meaning and fulfillment from their college experience.

Mindfulness has been linked to improved focus, creativity, and resilience, which enhance academic performance and achievement. In 2013, Michael Mrazek and a team of researchers worked to identify the effects of mindfulness training on working memory capacity for students taking the Graduate Record Examinations. Their findings suggest that simple mindfulness techniques can improve attention, memory, and reading comprehension. This is good news!

Simple activities that keep us focused on the present – like taking walks, enjoying meals without technology (put those phones down!), and spending quality time with friends – can serve as opportunities to appreciate and absorb moments, in the moment. By intentionally focusing on our present activities, we can overcome the blur of the day-to-day and cultivate a more present-centered approach to life.

As students navigate the complexities of academic life, we can help them remember to pause, breathe, and savor the richness of their present moment. There are joys and challenges associated with living in the present, but it cultivates a mindset that can lead to a more fulfilling and enriching experience. During these last weeks of the semester, my hope is that you can help remind your students to find happiness by being mindful in the small moments. Remember that sometimes they might need a helping hand or a reminder to slow down and absorb what is happening around them. It takes some effort to build moments into memories, but they are unique treasures your students will reflect on for years to come.