By Kimine Mayuzumi As the winter break unfolds (or perhaps it’s already in full swing), I wanted to take a moment to share five key recommendations and reminders to help you seamlessly transition from the rigors of the past term to a well-deserved period of rejuvenation. 1. Reflect on the term Take a moment to celebrate your accomplishments, both professional and personal. Whether it’s teaching engaging classes, completing challenging coursework, or reclaiming your health, each…
By Kimine Mayuzumi I am sitting here thinking about one of the best naps I had last week with my partner next to me. You know when a nap is really good? It is when you’re unsure of where you are when you wake up. I call it a power nap. It could happen even for only 13 minutes. Feeling refreshed and energized, I would feel called to spend my precious rest of the day…
By Kimine Mayuzumi Did you build some undesirable habits during the work-from-home period last year? Do you want to change them? Or have you considered changing them? If yes to any of the questions, please keep reading. Now that many people are physically back to campuses or workplaces and adjusting to their new (or old) ways of life, some of the habits may have faded away as the environment has changed. But you may still…
By Kimine Mayuzumi You may already know this in your body, even if it’s easy to forget: It is vital to have a support system—a circle of friends and colleagues, both inside and outside the academy. In a past blog post on imposter feelings in academia, we shared how important it is to build one’s own support system to navigate the shame that is so common in academic spaces. Alongside the competitive culture of…
By Kimine Mayuzumi In Part I, I discussed why it is (even more) important to be mindful, trust the process and let go of outcomes in this unique context, especially in the neoliberal culture with the pandemics (i.e., virus and social unrest) added. Then, a question I ask here is “what are the conditions and the mindset to create (or at least try to create) within ourselves so that we could more effortlessly be mindful,…
