A well-being initiative made 'by students for students'
In a world where student mental health is increasingly at the forefront of our conversations, we have taken the initiative to create a series of fun-filled well-being workshops. Informed by research-based insights, these workshops are designed to address aspects of the plasticity of well-being through the following dimensions: connection, awareness, insight, and purpose (Dahl et al., 2020).
Our workshops are unique as they approach well-being in a light-hearted and fun way by incorporating gamified and community-building elements. Recognising the challenges faced by students—be it academic pressure, social isolation, or the quest for personal identity and direction, our approach is a great way to renew one’s understanding and relationship with well-being in an enjoyable and impactful way.
The Structure
Before the workshops begin, there will be an Information Session that sets the stage for what is to come, providing a sneak peek into the transformative journey ahead. The program then unfolds through four workshops, each focusing on one of the dimensions:
In the connection workshop, you will work on strengthening social ties with your peers by engaging in fun activities. Be ready to experience team-building exercises and have meaningful exchanges with your peers. In this session, you will engage in both individual, pair, and collective activities.
In the awareness workshop, you will gain a deeper understanding of how your surroundings influence your daily life. This workshop helps you reflect on the environment through the lens of your five senses in an engaging off-campus environment. After this experience, expect to notice more of the small details in your environment that normally go unnoticed.
The insight workshop guides you through a personal journey to resilience. Through self-inquiry, you forge a deeper connection with yourself and cultivate a positive self-concept. By learning to approach challenges with compassion, you pave the way for a fulfilling and harmonious life, both within yourself and with others.
The purpose workshop provides a chance to delve into the different facets of life and their alignment with personal values. You will be utilizing a tool highly regarded by coaches and learn to map out and evaluate areas such as work, health, and relationships. This workshop aids in pinpointing priorities and planning a more balanced life.
The well-being dimensions experience will be wrapped up with a Graduation Ceremony, celebrating your achievements and growth. All of the workshops have been designed with full attendance in mind, where each workshop is an integral part of the overall experience, ensuring participants gain a holistic understanding and benefit from each dimension of the plasticity of well-being.
Workshop information and dates
Date: The information session is planned for the 13th and 19th of March. All the other workshops are planned on Tuesday afternoon from 16.00 to 18.00h.
Participation: Maximum 20 students.
Who: All students.
Information Session | 13 March 2024 | 16.00 - 17.00 | & | 19 March 2024 | 12.30 - 13.30 | We invite all BMS faculty students to come join us for the information session on the 13th or the 19th of March. During this session you will learn more about what the well-being dimensions experience will entail and experience a small teaser of what the workshops have to offer! Please register to join us in this information session! After the Information Session you can choose if you would like to continue with the well-being dimensions experience and take part in the workshops. To confirm your interest to join, we ask you to sign up again specifically to the workshops.
Note:
Please note that the Information Session is optional! If you are unable to attend this session, you could still sign up for the workshops through the website!
Connection Workshop | 26 March 2024 | 16.00 - 18.00 We are now starting with Connection, the first workshop of the well-being dimensions experience!
To take part in the workshops you will need to sign up! By signing up here for the connection workshop you will automatically be enrolled for all the rest of the sessions. Note that full attendance is required. We expect you to be able to attend all four dimensions workshops.
Note:
Sign up for the workshops is separate from sign up for the Info Session.
Awareness Workshop | 9 April 2024 | 16.00 - 18.00 This is the second workshop of the well-being dimensions experience. Attendance is required if you signed up for the workshops!
Insight Workshop | 30 April 2024 | 16.00 - 18.00 This is the third workshop of the well-being dimensions experience.
Attendance is required if you signed up for the workshops!
Purpose Workshop | 14 May 2024 | 16.00 - 18.00 This is thr fourth workshop of the well-being dimensions experience.
Attendance is required if you signed up for the workshops!
Graduation Ceremony | 4 June 2024 | 16.00 - 18.00 This is the final session in the well-being dimensions experience! We are happy to have had you with us and we invite you to celebrate the journey you had in this experience!
The Theory Behind the Well-being Dimensions Experience
The theory behind the workshops
The workshops are inspired by the transformative insights from Dahl et al. (2020), which illuminate the concept of well-being plasticity through four core, trainable dimensions: Awareness, Connection, Insight, and Purpose. By using the term “plasticity”, the research emphasizes the dynamic nature of well-being, revealing it as a skill set that can be developed with practice, akin to exercising muscles for physical health.
Each dimension offers a focused pathway to enhancing well-being:
- Connection deepens our relationships and empathy, which is key for support and resilience.
- Awareness sharpens our attention to the present, fostering emotional equilibrium.
- Insight provides clarity on our thoughts and behaviors, leading to self-discovery.
- Purpose aligns our actions with our values, enriching our sense of fulfilment.
By embracing the plasticity of well-being, our workshops not only educate but empower participants to actively shape their mental health and happiness.
Source:
Dahl, C. J., Wilson-Mendenhall, C. D., & Davidson, R. J. (2020). The plasticity of well-being: A training-based framework for the cultivation of human flourishing. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 117(51), 32197–32206. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2014859117
The Project Team
BMS Faculty Well-being Advisers
This project was developed in close collaboration with the BMS faculty well-being advisers and the manager of the Education Service Center at the BMS faculty. For any questions or support regarding your well-being please contact the faculty's well-being advisors.
Do you have questions?
Do you have any questions or doubts about the workshops? Then please contact us! You can email one of the project team members or the well-being advisers for any questions you may have!
