Small breaks during school can help improve students’ mental well-being

Meditation and mindfulness breaks may be becoming more popular in schools.

As part of their daily routines, schools across the United States have introduced meditation and mindfulness exercises, according to a report from The Associated Press. Studies have demonstrated that these school-based meditation and mindfulness breaks can help improve focus, stress, emotions and mental health among students — particularly those residing in low-income communities with increased rates of trauma.

The report detailed that a larger proportion of students may face mental health issues since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that more than 33% of students struggled with feelings of persistent sadness and hopelessness in 2023.

Schools hope that by implementing meditation and mindfulness breaks, they can boost students’ social-emotional learning, reflection and overall well-being.

Read more: The Associated Press

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