As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic unfolds, there are few certainties. Among them? Netflix is a saving grace. Go ahead and binge that show about a tiger-obsessed man in Oklahoma or a money-laundering accountant in the Ozarks. Getting lost in someone else’s story is a reprieve from your own. Zoning out is good for you.

But — as it turns out — zoning in is even better.

This is the philosophy behind mindfulness, the practice of paying close attention to the present moment. This means tuning in to external happenings — say, the sound of a dog breathing at your feet or the sight of a tree branch blowing in the wind. It also means bringing attention to your internal state. Rather than trying to suppress or ignore thoughts, emotions or sensations as they arise, the goal is acknowledging these feelings — and letting them pass — without judgement. Research indicates the benefits are myriad: less stress, more self-compassion and greater immunity.

“Escape activities — like bingeing on Netflix — are fine,” said Amy Griffin, associate professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Science in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Delaware who specializes in mindfulness training for the 20-something demographic. “There’s nothing wrong with that. But introducing a little bit of mindfulness into your day can ease some suffering longer term. Such a practice allows us to feel comfortable with being uncomfortable, so we’re better equipped to deal with whatever comes up.”

Since the beginning of the spring semester, Griffin has been teaching a class for undergraduate neuroscience and psychology students on mindfulness and the brain. But once the coronavirus outbreak forced the UD community — along with the rest of the world — into quarantine, she figured more people might be craving a stress-coping mechanism, so she launched a free, four-week, virtual class on mindfulness for graduate students, happening now. She will also run a second section beginning April 30. Participants in each course will learn the benefits of two major mindfulness strategies: the body-mind integration you see with activities like yoga or deep-breathing exercises, and meditation.

“People think you need to be a monk on a mountaintop to do this kind of thing,” Griffin said. “But if you can breathe, you can meditate.” 

Big caveat: Not all meditators are created equal. Take 20-somethings, for instance.

“They don’t respond very well to being told they need to sit on a cushion with their thoughts for 20 minutes a day,” said Griffin, whose classes cater specifically to this demographic. “That kind of strict sitting-with-your-thoughts thing may work for some people, but for college-aged students, graduate students and people with a lot on their plate, it’s good to have a variety of options.”

For these individuals, Griffin, who is training as a mindfulness teacher with the North Carolina-based Koru Center, suggests guided meditation apps — like the Ten percent Happier or Insight Timer options — so that someone is holding your hand through the process. She also recommends a simple breath practice in which you breathe in for four counts, hold for two counts and breathe out for six counts — this will “trick the brain into relaxing,” she said. Shoot for 10 mindful minutes per day, Griffin added, keeping in mind that consistency is more important than quantity.