SkillsBuild: Explorations into minfulness and more

One of my newest roles for 2022 is the mental and emotional health lead in the Staff Well-being team and that is something I hope to value add to with the various courses and workshops I have attended. I previously wrote about the WSQ in Peer to Peer Mental Well-being Support @ Work and I will share a bit more about the other online courses I completed to be a better mental health advocate.

quite easy and quick to sign up or log in using a Google account etc.

Sometime last year, I was introduced to IBM's Skillsbuild platform and I think it is something educators should check out, be it for themselves or their students. With students' ICON, I can imagine that students can make use of the platform for Student-Initiated Learning (SIL) as part of Blended Learning or HBL days. The other modules or learning content includes an introduction to AI, IoT, Sustainability and more. 

The course could be completed in a few hours and offered several good practices and ideas

the various segments in the course

The SkillsBuild Explorations into Mindfulness badge was co-created by IBM and the University of Oxford Mindfulness Centre

It is important to note that mindfulness is not the panacea to all mental health issues. It is however helpful especially for those who may not know how else to be more proactive in managing our own wellbeing. Also, articles like this (Commentary: What if mindfulness and meditation make us more selfish? by Michael J Poulin an Associate Professor in Psychology at the University of Buffalo), reveal some dangers in applying mindfulness without careful considerations. Apparently, those who go through mindful activities thinking only of 'me' and not 'we' end up being less kind to others somehow.

mindfulness for mental health

There are 1440 minutes in a day which meant that setting aside 5 60-second breaks for 5 mindful minutes should not be too much to ask for as it actually goes a long way in making one's day better. Check out the following screenshots and perhaps you can start by applying some especially for those of you working from home or who have been sitting in your office chairs for too long.

 

For me, one of my biggest takeaways from the course is as follows:

"Kindfulness

Kindness mindfulness or "kindfulness" practices are becoming more and more popular, not only in the business world, but in academia, healthcare, and in a variety of communities. Techniques and practices that focus on mindfulness, kindness, and compassion can be used to increase well-being, appreciation, and resiliency. Individuals who regularly practice kindfulness are more able to boost their capacity for understanding, connection to others, self-acceptance, and awareness.

A study published in the Harvard Review of Psychiatry provided an overview of research related to kindfulness and other compassion-based practices. It concluded that, based on preliminary evidence, these approaches might be beneficial in a range of different mental health conditions and chronic pain. "

If the above is too theoretical for you, check out some of the videos in my BBT prototype for mindful breathing and more.