Mindfulness for stress reduction

Managing stress during the examinations period can be really challenging and having a few extra practical strategies to help cope can be very useful.  With this in mind, the two ‘Life Tools’ talks next week are specially designed to enable students to reduce their stress levels and manage the pressure.

The first talk ‘Mindfulness for stress reduction’ is on Wednesday 4th May at 1.00pm.  Students should come along to learn some practical techniques to enable them to cope with the challenges of the exams period.  The talk will be in Carrington 101 and there is no need to book a place –  just come along on the day. 

Professor Mark Williams, Professor of Clinical Psychology at the Oxford Mindfulness Centre says that “Mindfulness can be an antidote to the “tunnel vision” that can develop in our daily lives, especially when we are busy, stressed or tired…………  Most of us have issues that we find hard to let go and mindfulness can help us deal with them more productively.”   Mindfulness is also one of the 5 steps for good mental wellbeing advocated by NHS Choices (2014).

The second talk on Thursday 5th May at 3.00pm is Managing exams pressure’At this talk student will learn strategies to manage revision and exams pressure effectively.  The talk is also in Carrington 101 and will be around 45 minutes, followed by the chance to ask questions.  Again, there is no need to book a place – just come along on the day for hints and tips to help you through the exams.

Life Tools Talk - Mindfulness for stress reduction 4 May 2016

 

 

An introduction to Mindfulness, Part 1, getting started

As part of the Life Tools series, a talk on Mindfulness has been organised for Wednesday 21 October at 1.00pm in Palmer 105.  It lasts around 50 minutes and there will be a chance to ask questions at the end.  It will be followed later in the term by a second talk – Mindfulness – keeping going.  There is no need to book a place at the talk – students should just turn up on the day. This talk is open to all students in the University.

Professor Mark Williams, Professor of Clinical Psychology at the Oxford Mindfulness Centre says that “Mindfulness can be an antidote to the “tunnel vision” that can develop in our daily lives, especially when we are busy, stressed or tired…………  Most of us have issues that we find hard to let go and mindfulness can help us deal with them more productively.”   Mindfulness is also one of the 5 steps for good mental wellbeing advocated by NHS Choices (2014).

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Staff Mindfulness Course

Do you feel stressed, anxious, worried? Why not try Mindfulness?

 
The Chaplaincy Centre is playing host to an 8 week “MINDFULNESS FOR STRESS REDUCTION” course that starts on Monday 13th October: 5.15-7.30pm at the Chaplaincy Centre, Whiteknights. FREE OF CHARGE.

 
Mindfulness has been clinically proven to relieve the symptoms of stress and anxiety. The course will be an introduction to Mindfulness using simple but powerful techniques which participants will build into their daily lives. This will help break unhelpful cycles of stress, worry and exhaustion and promote resilience and happiness. The course will include some meditations and exercises to be practised at home during the week – this is an essential part of the course.

 
The course is run by Kate Moberly and Jonathan Barker as part of the final part of their training as mindfulness teachers. The course is free but all participants will be expected to buy the course book (approximately £12) before the course starts. To reserve a place and for more information about the course please email: katemoberly@hotmail.com or jbjonathanbarker@gmail.com

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Keeping mindfulness in mind

An article about mindfulness by James Brooks was published in Research Professional on 22nd July 2015.  A number of Universities run mindfulness sessions for students but there is generally less support for academics and research staff.

‘Willem Kuyken is the director of the University of Oxford’s Mindfulness Centre. Kuyken is a clinical psychologist and, like many mindfulness researchers, he also practises the technique. But his peers outside the field tend to view mindfulness rather sceptically. “That scepticism is very healthy,” he says. “My colleagues want to see the evidence, they want to see the assumptions unpacked, they want clear definitions. That’s good.” However, he acknowledges that such scepticism makes them less likely to try it for themselves. Are they missing out on something that could help them in their jobs? Kuyken doesn’t preach. He does say, however, that mindfulness has strongly informed his approach to research: “When puzzling over data, for example, mindfulness practice can bring a different, non-analytical mode of mind to that usually employed. In that mode, I find that creative solutions can appear.”

Have you tried using mindfulness techniques?  Do they work for you? Would you like more courses to be offered in the University?

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Mental Health Awareness Week 11-17th May

Every year, between 11-17 May, the Mental Health Foundation helps to raise awareness of mental health and wellbeing issues. Since the first Mental Health Awareness Week back in 2000 they have helped generate public debates around how anxiety, sleep deprivation and exercise can impact our mental health. This year the focus is on Mindfulness.

The Mental Health Foundation website includes information about the event, and also resources for support – http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/mentalhealthawarenessweek/

There is also additional information on:

Mindfulness (the focus of Mental Health Awareness week) – http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/mentalhealthawarenessweek/what-is-mindfulness/

Mental Health Podcasts e.g. How to overcome fear and anxiety/Progressive relaxation for better sleep/Wellbeing and sleep etc – http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/help-information/podcasts/

At the start of Mental Health Awareness week the University of Reading’s fundraising team is also launching the Charlie Waller Fundraising Appeal. This campaign will raise money to further test and develop a pioneering new treatment, Brief Behavioural Action, which could transform the lives of thousands of young people with depression. http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/staffportal/news/articles/spsn-633092.aspx

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