With the onset of the pandemic, the health and well-being of family, friends and colleagues continue to affect all aspects of our lives. To explore ways we can take care of ourselves and others through breathing/mindfulness movements, the Center for Public Service and Community Research is hosting “Taking Care of Ourselves: How SEL* F Leads to Healing” from 6:30 – 8 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 28. 

According to UHD’s Dr. Laura Mitchell in the Department of Urban Education, the pandemic has forced everyone to experience a high degree of stress in their personal and professional lives and ultimately, we forget about ourselves.

“During these times of difficulty and distress, we are so busy taking care of others that we forget to take time for ourselves, said the Associate Professor of Bilingual Education. “In this presentation, we will talk and learn ways of what we can do to take care of ourselves.”

The SEL* F (Social Emotional Learning & Facilitation) presentation, which is grounded in theory and practice, provides goals and objectives to become more self-aware of our own state of being to better self-manage our personal and professional lives. Participants will be asked to perform simple movements either by standing, sitting in a chair or on the floor. Attendees also will be encouraged to have a journal/paper, pens/markers to express creative ways as they move through the process of learning to take care of themselves and others.

“I want participants to be active in doing mindful movement,” emphasized Mitchell. “They will be encouraged to share and answer about the topics we discuss. The group also will have the time and space to write/draw about ways they can take care of themselves. I hope that this presentation will give all of us an opportunity to share ways that we are taking care of ourselves and offer many of us the renewed energy of returning this semester and finding ways to connect with one another.”

Register today!