Mindful Mondays
Lynn University Has a Mindful Day of Eating
By Lisset Guillen, Staff Writer
On Nov. 6, the Lynn community practiced mindful eating at Perper Plaza to start their day.
Mindful eating is a technique that allows individuals to be aware of how and what they are eating. To do the technique properly, students and staff ate one pretzel, and described what they ate. Then, they slowly ate another pretzel and truly thought about its taste and texture in depth.
“Mindful eating helps me stay focused on the present rather than letting my mind wander to other things,” said Anabella Verheyen, a criminal justice major at Lynn.
The Student Health and Wellness Promotions have been hosting Mindful Mondays since August. Other techniques students and faculty have learned are grounding, gratitude journaling, identifying strengths, and many more.
“If students practice these techniques, they can benefit because we are constantly on our phones thinking about things we need to do,” said Dr. Charlotte Muriel, Associate Director of Student Health and Wellness Promotions.
These activities can help with anxiety and substance abuse. On Oct. 28, “Friends” actor Matthew Perry died from an apparent drowning due to cardiac arrest. Perry suffered from anxiety and had a history of substance abuse.
“Most people use substances as a coping mechanism to avoid how they feel,” said Debra Futterman, Executive Director of Health and Wellness. “Using mindfulness in a different way teaches the person how to sit with the feelings they are uncomfortable with and get through it without turning to alcohol or drugs.”
In 2013, Perry opened The Perry House in Malibu, California to help people struggling with drugs and alcohol. He sold the house in 2015, however, The Matthew Perry Foundation was announced on Nov. 3, to help those struggling with addiction. To donate, visit https://matthewperryfoundation.org/
The Student Health and Wellness Promotions will continue to host Mindful Mondays in the new Snyder Center for Health and Wellness. Meetings take place every Monday, and everyone is welcome.
