Mindfulness & meditation

Mindfulness is shown to reduce stress as well as improve mental and physical health, focus, and productivity. It is one of the most powerful tools to manage our attention. Yet, mindfulness is about a lot more than just about attention, it is also about thinking and perceiving differently as we do in autopilot mode that usually navigates us through daily life. Thus, mindfulness asks for kindness and curiosity in how we approach both work and life in general. Practicing mindfulness allows for a more deliberate, open, aware and conscious lifestyle, serving yourself and the world around you.

In this course, I want to provide a beginner's guide to that topic. We will speak about the stressors connected to working in academia as a researcher. We will further investigate what stress does to our minds and bodies and how mindfulness helps us to stay healthy and productive while facing high demands. In various ways, we will engage in mindfulness as a practice to relax and become calm. Next to that, we will explore and practice a diverse set of mindfulness-based techniques  to deal skillfully with very specific  challenges of working in academia. The workshop will be very interactive; a mix of theoretical input and food for thought, open discussions, time for contemplation and reflection, group work and a lot of practical exercises.

Participants will:

• Gain insight into the philosophy and science of mindfulness and meditation.
• Learn to observe stress and challenges (e.g. decision making or navigating conflict) from a perspective of mindfulness and how they can be dealt with skillfully.
• Expererience and practice different forms and techniques of mindfulness.
• Learn how to apply practices, strategies and interventions to support self-awareness and self-management in their daily lifes.

4 October 2023 9:00 - 12:30