This workshop helps students declutter their minds and gain clarity, focus, and positivity. It is run by two career advisors and lasts 90 minutes, longer than typical sessions. Students learn practical exercises like identifying pressures in their lives, influences they can control, boosting dopamine through food and exercise, and mindfulness. Neuroplasticity is discussed—how experiences and mindset can change the brain. Feedback was positive, with students finding it insightful and wanting it to be a regular event. Some requested more time for exercises and specificity for exam preparation. The workshop provides students frameworks to better manage their mental well-being.

1. Mental De Cluttering for students
Highlights of a workshop for students which fits the changing
mind- sets and wellbeing strategies

2. Jacqui and Kelly
• This session will showcase a central workshop delivered by
two careers advisers with different approaches, both rooted
in personal experience
• This workshop sits well with the university changing
mind-sets and well-being agendas.
• This workshop bucks the trend for delivering shorter sessions
as it is 90 minutes and it isn't focused on recruitment or
career
• It challenges mind –sets; thoughts, feelings and behaviours

4. Background to the workshop
• Why we run it
• What we have tried before
• Practical Exercises
❑ Life’s pressures
❑ Circles of influence
❑ Awareness Continuum – engaging our senses
• Q and A
• Sharing

5. Your time is valuable. How might you
spend it more wisely?
• This is a practical workshop to help you
gain more clarity, focus and positivity
when tackling career and personal life.
• Jacqui Adams and Kelly Biggs
• Careers Advisers

6. What pressures are there are in our lives?

7. Why do we get mental clutter?
• Worry
• Ruminating over past mistakes/choices
• Negative self-talk

9. Circles of Influence
What I can
control
Outside of my
control
Outside of my
influence
What I can
influence

10. The urgent/important matrix

11. Mould it, Boost it, Train it

12. Neuroplasticity: How Your Life
Shapes Your Brain
Clearly, the brain can exert a powerful grip on
one’s life — but only if you let it. The good news
is that you can overcome the brain’s control and
rewire your brain to work for you and by
choosing to act in healthy, adaptive ways.
Jeffrey M. Schwartz, MD – You Are Not Your Brain: The 4-Step Solution for
Changing Bad Habits, Ending Unhealthy Thinking, and Taking Control of
Your Life
We know that what you do with your mind — how you
focus your attention, intentionally shape your thoughts
and calm your emotions — can directly change your
brain. That’s the key to neuroplasticity — how our
experiences, including what we do with our minds,
change the activity and even the lifelong remodeling
of our brains.
Daniel J. Siegel, MD
Mould it

13. DOPAMINE BOOST IT
safe, healthy, natural ways to
boost your dopamine levels
Do you feel you don’t have
enough energy to get through the
day?
Is it hard to finish things once
you’ve started them?
Are you easily distracted?
Do you find it hard to
concentrate?
Have you lost your zest for life?
Eat foods rich in tyrosine
Exercise regularly
Learn to meditate
Get a massage
Sleep
Listen to music
Supplements

14. OUR INNER CHIMP Train it
• Chimp Paradox
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-KI1D5
NPJs -13 mins
• Animated version
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf9Xe633
rQE – 4 mins and 25 secs

19. Mindfulness
• Taking time out to
paying attention to
breathing, sounds,
smells, touch, taste
• Being in the moment
• Can involve
visualisation

20. JOHANNES HAUSHOFER -CV OF FAILURES
Degree programs I did not get into
• 2008 PhD Program in Economics, Stockholm School of Economics
• 2003 Graduate Course in Medicine, Cambridge University
• Graduate Course in Medicine, UCL
• PhD Program in Psychology, Harvard University
• PhD Program in Neuroscience and Psychology, Stanford University
• 1999 BA in International Relations, London School of Economics
Academic positions and fellowships I did not get
• 2014 Harvard Kennedy School Assistant Professorship
• UC Berkeley Agricultural and Resource Economics Assistant Professorship
• MIT Brain & Cognitive Sciences Assistant Professorship
• This list is restricted to institutions where I had campus visits; the list of places where I had
• first-round interviews but wasn’t invited for a campus visit, and where I wasn’t invited to
• interview in the first place, is much longer and I will write it up when I get a chance. The list
• also shrouds the fact that I didn’t apply to most of the top economics departments (Harvard,
• MIT, Yale, Stanford, Princeton, Chicago, Berkeley, LSE) because one of my advisors felt they
• could not write a strong letter for them.
Awards and scholarships I did not get
• 2011 Swiss Network for International Studies PhD Award
• 2010 Society of Fellows, Harvard University
• Society in Science Scholarship
• University of Zurich Research Scholarship
One of the most strangely
inspirational things I have
ever read is this CV of
failures.
Thank you thank you
thank you to the
Princeton
psychology
professor who
posted a resume of
failures online
This darn CV of Failures has received way more
attention than my entire body of academic
work –
JOHANNES HAUSHOFER

21. Grateful
Learnt
Achieved
Delighted

22. If she opened the bag, they might jump out at her and who knew
what would happen then? "Nonsense" said the old lady firmly.
"There's nothing a worry hates more than being seen. If you have any
worries, however small, the secret is to let them out one by and
show them to someone else, they'll soon go away"

23. Talk it out
'Attention
is the
rarest and
purest
form of
generosity.’
Simone
Weil

24. Its all about the nail
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4EDhdA
HrOg
• 1.41

27. Nine life lessons
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86g4scIU_KY
Tim Minchin

28. Some feedback
‘The workshop made me realise that I have
been doing it all wrong. I have been
spending energy on the wrong things. The
knowledge I received today will truly have a
great impact on all my tomorrows. I wish we
had more time for some more exercises.
Thank you’
‘The two minute meditation
made it all worthwhile. ‘The
only complaint I have, that
the activity is not a regular
weekly thing.’
‘An interesting afternoon of different methods for
thinking differently and changing mindsets. Would
be better if made more specific for end of year
study etc’
‘Really helpful and
insightful to look at all the
different and effective
methods of decluttering’
‘Good and new perspective. Good exercises and
take aways. Don’t change anything’.
‘Really helpful and insightful
to look at all the different and
effective methods of
decluttering’

30. Appreciations