Calming the Monkey Mind

Abstract

Many of today’s students are experiencing higher levels of stress and anxiety in school.  The need for competitive grades, the desire to be seen as perfect in a digital society, and parental pressures are only some of the reasons that students are experiencing more stress.  This increased stress has lead to an overworked mind for many youth, dubbed a ‘monkey mind’ in which they cannot calm or control their thoughts.  This article examines possible causes of a ‘monkey mind’ and explores the beginning of how students may learn to calm and control their ‘monkey mind’ through mindfulness training.  Several examples of mindfulness training in different classroom scenarios are introduced, and the relationships between our connections to everything around us are explored.  The article serves to provide a starting point for educators who may feel at a loss for how to help their students manage their stress and anxiety levels.