We each face our own, ever-changing set of personal and work-related challenges and opportunities. These interactive webinars can inform, inspire, and support you in this process, with research-based strategies, tips, and information to help you be better prepared for whatever life presents next.
Presented by the MIT HR Center for WorkLife and WellBeing
Battling Burnout: Caring for Yourself and Others Amidst Turbulent Times
Presenter: Kelley Bonner, L.C.S.W., M.A.; Founder, Burn Bright
We’re all feeling at least a little burned out these days. After all, we’re living through a once-in-a-lifetime global pandemic. But for marginalized communities, burnout is further underpinned by severe economic and social inequalities. This workshop will explore the topic of burnout from a social justice perspective, and will provide specific steps that you can take to be a positive change agent, without exhausting your physical and mental wellbeing. You will learn about:
- The physical and emotional impact of race-based trauma, including exposure to traumatic rhetoric and acts of violence
- Resources and strategies to help reduce, prevent, and recover from burnout and secondary traumatic stress
- Ways to shift fear-based thinking and behavior into meaningful societal contributions
Mindful Ergonomics: Improve Your Physical Wellbeing While Working from Home
Presenter: Rob Walsh, B.F.A., M.S. Candidate; Mindfulness Practitioner and Instructor
The sudden, unexpected shift to remote work has compelled many of us to get “creative” with our new workstations. But as we settle into working from home for the long term, it’s clear that the kitchen counter is not a sustainable solution. This session takes a mindful approach to identifying working-from-home behaviors and environmental factors that may be causing us pain and distress. We will also use evidence-based learning and hands-on activities to help cultivate healthier, more productive at-home work, including:
- Scientific perspectives on the mind-body relationship
- Short mindfulness and physical activities, which can be easily integrated into daily routines to boost energy, reduce stress, and relax the body
- Methods to optimize your current work environment for peak focus and wellbeing
Building Emotional Awareness to Improve Interpersonal Communication
Presenter: Lance Linke, Ph.D., Psy.D.; Clinical Psychologist, Director of Child and Adolescent Services, Kendall Psychological Associates
We’ve all heard that communication is key to any healthy relationship, whether it be personal or professional. So, why does communicating sometimes feel so hard? What we may not realize is just how much our emotions influence our interactions with others. This session will use leading empirical research to build emotional awareness that will improve both your personal and professional communication. You will explore the:
- Elements of communication that relate to emotional expression and relationship building
- Specific techniques for observing and managing your thoughts and feelings
- Practical strategies for sharing and conveying information with others
Coping with Worries: Emotional Survival Strategies (A Three-Part Series)
Thursdays | 12:00pm-1:30pm
To say that there’s been an uptick in worrying over the last year would be an understatement. But while a pandemic may provide us with much to worry about, it may surprise you to learn that it is our thoughts, not our external circumstances, that most impact the way we feel. The good news is that when we take the time to examine and address our worries, we can (slowly but surely!) learn to release the hold they have over our lives. This series will help you better understand the impact of worrying on your mood, and provide clinically proven practices for managing routine worries and regulating extreme responses to anxiety.
Please note: While we encourage you to attend all sessions, you may register for as many as your schedule allows.
Part One: Understanding Our Worries (Thursday, May 6, 2021 from 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM)
This session will provide you with a foundational understanding of the connection between worrying and your mood. You will explore questions such as:
- Why do we worry?
- What function does our worrying serve?
- How does worrying affect our day-to-day thoughts, behaviors, and moods?
- How does worrying impact our personal and professional relationships?
Part Two: Managing Our Routine Worries (Thursday, May 13, 2021 from 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM)
This session will draw on cognitive-behavioral theory and techniques to help you recognize and change problematic patterns of thinking and behaving. You will build the skills to:
- Identify and challenge worry-related thoughts that may be fueling negative emotions
- Modify your actions to avoid worry and anxiety triggers
- Enhance your overall emotional wellbeing
Part Three: Regulating Our Extreme Worries (Thursday, May 20, 2021 from 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM)
When faced with a painful problem, you have four options:
- Solve the problem
- Change your feelings about the problem
- Accept the problem
- Do nothing about the problem
The choice is yours. This session will draw on dialectical-behavioral theory and techniques to explore these options. You will build problem-solving skills and attitudes that support helpful new ways of responding to extreme worries.
The Importance of Empathy
Presented by Care@Work
The pandemic has brought more grief, depression, and isolation than ever. Dr. Kelsey Crowe provides resilience-building strategies and an “empathy workout” to better support family, and others, in actionable ways.
MIT MyLife Services
Feeling stressed? Wondering what community resources are available to support your family? Consult confidentially with a master’s-level counselor around how to manage stress and personal, family, or work concerns; and also connect with a network of legal, financial, and other experts who provide personalized referrals.