In the academic world we identify ourselves mainly with our heads. Our heads can be full of brilliant and problem solving thoughts. We have learned to think a lot and hard and to take our thoughts seriously; after all, the quality of our thoughts determines an essential part of our academic success. Although thinking has many advantages, it also has a clear downside. In addition to the brilliant and helpful thoughts, we also have many useless and self-critical thoughts, which we often take just as seriously. Furthermore, we regularly fall back into old (thinking) patterns that are not necessarily appropriate for the situation we are in or the issue we are working on. Finally, we generally pay less attention to our emotions and body sensations while they can tell us a lot, sometimes even forgetting that we have a body that needs food, fluids or a better posture.
Goal & result
Mindfulness offers a way to sustain our attention on the present moment, to be consciously present. This focused attention enables us to notice which thoughts, feelings and physical sensations we experience from moment to moment. This provides us with a better - and above all faster – insight into how we are doing, and whether we experience sensations such as stress. Mindfulness also gives us the opportunity to switch out of autopilot every moment and to make conscious choices. So instead of automatically responding (or thinking or worrying) from habit, we create the space to act consciously as best suited given the (tricky) situation.
Participation in this program helps people to:
- Switch out of autopilot
- Focus consciously (for example on inner sensations)
- Make conscious choices
- Worry and ruminate less
- Think and act more creatively
- Recognize stress signals faster
- Take care of themselves (among other things in a work-related context)
Practical information
| Dates: | Interested? Let us know! |
| Duration: | 6 meetings of 90 minutes |
| Location: | EUR Woudestein |
| Costs: | €400 per participant |
| Financing: | Do you want to use your personal career budget? Make sure you submit your application to our colleagues on time. Read more here. If you want to use your department budget, you can request the budget number from your manager. |
| Language: | Dutch |
| Other: | You will receive a certificate after a participation of at least 80%. |
Marianne Littel & Birgit Mayer (mindfulness-trainers and university teachers clinical psychology EUR)
For people who notice that stress at work has a negative influence on their performance.
For people who notice that, before or perhaps after a situation, they worry about how it will go or should have gone. People who notice that all this thinking makes them feel sombre or anxious.