NOTE: One bright spot of the COVID-19 pandemic was how it broadened understanding of the need to consider learner well-being when designing courses. Throughout this course, we'll pause and TAKE A MOMENT for you to do several mindfulness strategies. I encourage you to think about how you might integratewell-being into your own school/work/life balance.As UW associate professor of General Internal Medicine, Claudia Finkelstein, notes in The Meaning of Mindfulness, "There is a mounting body of solid scientific evidence showing that mindfulness canenhance emotional self-regulationandpositive emotional states."

Grounding Practice

Starting a new academic year or a new course can be exciting, but also potentially stressful. You may feel overwhelmed with the numberof things you have to do and may find yourself struggling to balance your personal and university responsibilities. Practicing mindfulness, focusing on one's awareness of thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations in the present moment, may help you identify and process your emotions.

The video below introduces and models the "5-4-3-2-1" exercise, which is designed to help you stay in the moment and avoid negative thinking.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30VMIEmA114&t=209s&ab_channel=ThePartnershipInEducation

After viewing this video, please share your thoughts about this experience. Could this be a useful tool for students? What about as a therapist? A nurse?

The Meaning of Mindfulness: https://thewholeu.uw.edu/2022/01/05/the-meaning-of-mindfulness/