What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present and engaged in the current moment, without judgment. It involves paying attention to thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and the surrounding environment with a sense of openness and curiosity.
It helps individuals reduce stress, improve focus, enhance emotional regulation, and cultivate a greater sense of well-being. Mindfulness can be practiced through meditation, breathing exercises, or simply by bringing awareness to daily activities like eating, walking, or listening.
The Vision
Mindful Mondays is about creating a space for us to pause, breathe, and reset at the start of each week. It’s an opportunity to center ourselves and cultivate more presence and calm amidst our busy lives. Through simple mindfulness practices, we’ll learn how to manage stress, focus more effectively, and show up as our best selves—not only at work but, most importantly, in life. We’ll focus on finding the right balance between life and work, ensuring we care for ourselves so we can be present for others.
To me, mindfulness is like the moment when an airplane’s oxygen masks come down. The instruction is always to put your mask on first before assisting anyone else. This approach is logical—because if we don’t take care of ourselves, we won’t be able to help anyone else. Mindfulness is about putting on your mask first: it gives you the space to process emotions and information safely and constructively. This, in turn, helps reduce stress, build resilience, and create a more positive and focused community.
Whether you’re new to mindfulness or a seasoned practitioner, Mindful Mondays is a place for all of us to connect, share, and grow together. Let’s start the week with intention, building habits that support our well-being. As the program grows, we hope to create a Library of Mindfulness, a collection of on-demand sessions to continue the journey at your own pace.
Pre-Mindful Mondays Survey
Please complete this survey prior to engaging in the Mindful Mondays program.
24-25 Launch and Schedule
Mindful Mondays will launch on 3/31/2025 and will be held every first Monday of the month. We will provide both virtual and in-person opportunities, as technology and weather permit.
March 31 – Intro to Mindfulness (12:00pm in Olmsted and Virtual)
Please complete the RSVP section and look out for the Teams invite to attend virtually or join us in Olmsted located in Mandelle Hall across from the Business Office.
RSVP
Mindful Mondays March 31 Intro to Mindfulness
Registration for March 31 Mindful Mondays – Intro to Mindfulness event
Post Event Survey
Resources
In today’s session, we practiced the following two mindfulness techniques.
April 7 – Stress Reduction: Simple Practices to Manage Stress (12:00pm in Olmsted and Virtual)
We’ll start by understanding how stress affects our minds and bodies, followed by a simple grounding exercise that you can use anytime to bring yourself back to the present and regain a sense of calm.
RSVP
Mindful Mondays: April 7 – Stress Reduction: Simple Practices to Manage Stress
Registration for April 7th Stress Reduction Mindful Mondays
Post-event Survey
Resources
In today’s session, we used mindfulness as a tool to reduce stress.
May 5 – Mindful Time Management (12:00pm in Olmsted and Virtual)
We all have the same 24 hours in a day, but how we use those hours can drastically impact our productivity and well-being. This session is all about using mindfulness to manage your time more effectively by focusing on one task at a time, prioritizing what matters most, and creating a schedule that supports your well-being.
RSVP
Mindful Mondays: May 5 – Mindful Time Management RSVP
Registration for May 5th’s Mindful Time Management session.
Post-event Survey
Resources
In today’s session, we applied mindfulness technique to help us build more productive schedules that honor our productivity and well-being.
Mindful Time Management (PowerPoint Presentation)
June 2 – The Power of Now: Living in the Present Moment (12:00pm Outdoors – Red Square)
In today’s fast-paced world, we often find ourselves caught up in thoughts of the past or future. But what if the most powerful place to be is right now? Living in the present moment helps us experience life more fully and reduces stress by releasing unnecessary worry or regret.
RSVP
Mindful Mondays: June 2 – The Power of Now RSVP
Registration for June 2nd’s The Power of Now session.
Post-event Survey
Resources
The Power of Now handout.
July 7 – Mindful Listening (12:00pm Olmsted and Virtual)
This session will introduce the concept of Mindful Listening, emphasizing its importance in fostering understanding, reducing stress, and strengthening relationships. Participants will engage in exercises that help cultivate active listening skills and presence in conversations.
RSVP
Mindful Mondays: July 7 – Mindful Listening RSVP
Registration for July 7th’s Mindful Listening session.
Post Event Survey
Resources
August 4 – Mindfulness through Creativity (12:00pm Hicks Banquet Room East and West)
We will engage in a short, mindful watercolor activity to promote relaxation, creativity, and presence.
RSVP
Mindful Mondays: August 4 – Mindfulness Through Creativity RSVP
Registration for August 4th’s Mindfulness through Creativity session.
Post Event Survey
Resources
Coming Soon!
25-26 Schedule
Monday, September 1, 2025 – There will not be a session this month in observance of Labor day.
Monday, October 6, 2025 – Breathe and Begin
This year, Mindfulness Mondays are all about two things: Community Connection and Resilience. Life gets hectic, but if we can slow down together—just for a moment—we remind ourselves that we’re not alone in navigating stress or busyness.
Monday, November 3, 2025 – Gratitude Circle
Today, we’re focusing on gratitude—it’s one of the simplest, yet most powerful practices to shift our mindset and boost well-being.
Monday, December 1, 2025 – Mindful Art for Stress Relief
The holiday season can bring joy—but also stress, expectations, and a lot of busy energy. So today, we’re slowing down with a little mindful creativity.
Monday, January 5, 2026 – Intentional Start – Guided Journaling to Welcome 2026
Today, we’re using guided journaling—a simple way to slow down, reflect, and set gentle intentions without pressure or perfection.
Monday, February 2, 2026 – Stretch & Reset – Chair Yoga for Stress Relief
We’re in that stretch of winter where stress builds up, bodies feel stiff, and energy can feel low—so today, we’re moving through some gentle chair yoga to release tension.
Monday, March 2, 2026 – Mindful Movement – Shake Off the Stress
Today, we’re shaking that off with a little mindful movement. No need to change clothes or overthink it—this is simple, accessible, and all about reconnecting with your body and breath.
Monday, April 6, 2026 – Breathing for Renewal – A Spring Reset
Gratitude isn’t about forcing positivity—it’s about noticing the good, the supportive, the beautiful, even if it’s as simple as feeling the sun or hearing the birds
Monday, June 1, 2026 – Mindful Art in the Sunshine – Creativity for Calm
Today’s session is all about slowing down and creating space for calm as summer begins. We’ll tap into a little mindful art—simple, playful, no expectations, just creativity and presence.”
Monday, July 6, 2026 – Mindful Moment at Home
There’s no live Mindful Monday session today as the College observes the holiday, but we still wanted to share a quick way to pause, reset, and breathe as you ease into the week.
🌿 Try this Simple Breathing Practice:
- Inhale deeply for 4 counts
- Hold for 4 counts
- Exhale slowly for 4 counts
- Pause for 4 counts
Repeat 4 rounds
Even one mindful minute can help bring calm and clarity to your day—especially during busy or eventful weeks.
We’ll be back with our next full session on August 3rd – Resilience Reset to help transition into fall.
Monday, August 3, 2026 – Resilience Reset – Grounding Before the Busy Season
Today, we’re slowing down to reset and reconnect with our inner resilience—that ability to stay grounded, even when things speed up.
Opportunity to Provide Feedback
We are always looking for ways to improve the information presented here. If you have any feedback to provide about the information, please complete an HR Feedback Form. Thank you for your time and feedback! Be well.