‘Well-Being and Productivity’
Writing Group
The Emotion and Society Lab’s Well-being and Productivity Writing Group is a dedicated initiative aimed at fostering a supportive environment where UCR graduate students can work on their writing projects, learn effective productivity strategies, and achieve a balanced approach to their academic and personal lives. Through organized writing sessions, seminars, mentorship, and peer support, participants will learn time management, habit formation, work-life balance, and more, equipping them with practical tools to navigate graduate school challenges successfully.
The program is organized by Myisha Cherry (Philosophy), Matthew King (Religion)?, Maria del Rosario Acosta López (Spanish)?, and
Keilee Bessho (Philosophy)?
Objectives
1. Provide a dedicated space for writing: allow students to come together for an immersive, distraction-free writing session. Using the Pomodoro Method, participants will write in focused sprints, followed by short breaks to recharge and connect with others.
2. Teach Productivity Strategies: introduce evidence-based productivity techniques, such as the task prioritization, to help students manage their workloads efficiently.
3. Promote Effective Time Management: offer guidance on scheduling, goal setting, and deadline management to assist students in balancing academic responsibilities with personal commitments.
4. Encourage Habit Formation: educate students on the importance of developing positive habits and routines that support sustained academic success and personal well-being.
5. Foster Work-Life Balance: create discussions and provide strategies to help students maintain a healthy balance between their studies and personal lives, reducing the risk of burnout.
6. Build a Supportive Community: establish a network of peers and mentors where students can share writing ideas, experiences, challenges, and solutions in a collaborative setting.
7. Develop Stress Management Techniques: introduce mindfulness practices and stress reduction strategies to help students cope with the pressures of graduate studies.
Dates and Format
Every 1st Friday
Spring 2025: (April-June)
Fall 2025: (October-December)
Format
9:30-10:00: Breakfast
10-1 pm: Pomodoro Writing Sessions
1-2 pm: Lunch Time Lecture/Workshop
2-4 pm: Pomodoro Writing Sessions
4-4:30: Close-out Chat
Apply to Join one of our 2025 Cohorts
You must be a UCR graduate student in the humanities to be considered. Priority will be given to graduate students at the qualifying exam and dissertation stages.
To Apply, click HERE.
