Enhance Your Emotional Well-being: Engaging in Mindful Practices Can Boost Your Overall Mental Health
The journal "PLoS One" recently published a study on the benefits of mindfulness for graduate students' mental health.
With the increasing need for mental health interventions for graduate students, Susan Hagness, a co-author and professor of electrical and computer engineering, emphasizes the importance of developing resiliency and a robust toolbox for both personal and professional flourishing.
Mindfulness practices, such as meditation, yoga, or prayer, can cultivate emotional awareness and acceptance in the present moment. Corporate giants like Google, Intel, and Nike have implemented mindfulness in employee development activities to reduce stress and burnout and enhance focus, creativity, job satisfaction, and wellness.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison conducted two studies involving 215 participants across six academic semesters, with cohorts of engineering graduate students participating in an hour-long, instructor-led mindfulness training program once a week for eight weeks.
The "Mindful Engineer" curriculum drew on neuroscience-derived concepts and strategies for creating healthy mental and emotional habits. Post-training surveys showed significant improvements in emotional well-being, positivity, reduced negative emotions, and increased mindfulness. Control groups reported steady or decreased well-being.
The researchers found that engineering graduate students were open to mindfulness training and enjoyed the opportunity to connect with other graduate students.
Wendy Crone, a co-author and professor of engineering physics and mechanical engineering, notes that mindfulness training should be integrated into the graduate student experience.
In the meantime, the Healthy Minds Program app offers podcast-style lessons and meditation exercises. Mindfulness practices can benefit anyone, as small investments in self-care can have long-term rewards
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