Start a Meeting with a Short Discussion about Wellbeing
There are a variety of brief activities to start a meeting or class that will establish a culture of care and respect. This is an activity you can do with your colleagues and/or with your students, depending on what you are comfortable with and how time allows. They can turn to a partner, share in small group, do a 3 minute Zoom breakout, etc.
Discussion Topic Examples
- What is going well (Positive)
- Have each person say one thing that is going well this week (personal or professional).
- Gratitude
- Have each person name one or two things they are grateful for this week. Name someone they are grateful for this week.
- Mindfulness
- Do a short mindful meditation exercise as a group to help focus everyone before the meeting.
- Headspace has free meditations available: https://www.headspace.com/
- Student Counseling Services has guided meditation exercises at this link: https://www.counseling.iastate.edu/
- Do a short mindful meditation exercise as a group to help focus everyone before the meeting.
- Self-Care
- Ask everyone to describe something they are doing this week to take care of themselves?
- Recommendations
- Have everyone give one recommendation they have for the group: a book, movie, Netflix show, recipe, hiking or biking location, etc.
Add in your own discussion topics that connect to wellbeing and your academic field as well!