“There is no substitute for doing something creative, even if it is only doodling, keeping a journal, or writing meaningful letters to friends or relatives” (Edgar Schein: Humble Inquiry)
At lot has happened in the last 15 months. COVID-19 has had consequences for ourselves, our study and our future work. Some have grieved, some have hibernated, some have renovated, some discovered connections and extended networks. Each placed different demands on us and all are part of the emerging story of living during the pandemic. Mental health and wellbeing have become common parlance yet there seems to be something about the PGR (and broader research) culture that makes it hard to dissolve the stigma associated with seeking support.
This workshop draws on a pilot project from Dr Beth Cross at University of West of Scotland called Homestretch. Homestretch experiments with the possibility of offering an online supportive space. It is partly based on the theory that playful activities can sometimes prompt serious insights and discoveries at depth. These practices draw on mindfulness but equally are resonant with a shift in research practice that engages with critical social materialist and post humanist insights. It also draws on the principle that we learn best from our experiences when given time to process and share. Have you been truly able to do that in the last year? Participants are warmly invited to join us in a safe, supportive and creative space where you can articulate your 2020/21 journey, try out some of the Homestretch practices and design your own personal wellbeing tooklit for you and your research.
The workshop seeks to create a mentally healthy PGR community and will be interactive mostly working in pairs and small groups.