By Riyad A. Shahjahan You have set aside time to write. You know what you plan to work on for the next 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or hour. You sit down to begin — or perhaps you are already writing — when suddenly an urge arises to do something else. Maybe you feel compelled to check the laundry, browse the news, scroll through social media, make a quick phone call, or do a bit more
By Kimine Mayuzumi There is nothing passive about stopping, and when you decide to go, it’s a different kind of going because you stopped. — Jon Kabat-Zinn A few weeks ago, I led a session called Exhale – Reset through Reflection and Practice for a group of academics transitioning out of their academic year. I was reminded again how exhausting this season can be for many academics — trying to wrap things up while
April 7, 2026
What I learned from Tai Chi walking
By Kimine Mayuzumi In the Tai Chi class that I lead regularly, we always begin with a walking exercise — what I call Tai Chi walking. We walk slowly — probably slower than you might imagine. It feels almost like moving in slow motion. I learn so much from this experience, and I invite you to try this kind of slow, mindful walking one day. I’ve attached a video clip so you can get a
February 11, 2026
Setting intentions (not just goals): A perspective from practice
By Kimine Mayuzumi A client once asked me: “Is there a particular format you use to help people set an intention? I’ve been experimenting with different ones to use with students, but I haven’t found an explanation I love yet — especially one that helps them understand the difference between an intention and a goal.” This is a wonderful question. And I actually hear two questions within it: How do I differentiate an intention from
December 11, 2025
A decade of Being Lazy and Slowing Down: Stories and insights from higher education
By Kimine Mayuzumi Ten years ago, I wrote a short post called “5 Ways to Slow Down NOW.” At the time, I didn’t know whether anyone would read it. I simply felt pulled to explore gentler ways of living and working — especially in environments organized around speed, output, and performance. I kept writing, not because I had a grand vision for what Being Lazy and Slowing Down (BLSD) would become, but because each piece